K 


HISTORY 

OP   THE 

AMERICAN 

BAPTIST  PUBLICATION  SOCIETY, 

From    its    Origin    in    1824, 

To    its    Thirty-Second    Anniversary    in    1856. 

• 

Drawn  up  under  the  direction  of  the  Board, 

BT 

J.  NEWTON  BROWN. 


AMERICAN  BABTIST  PUBLICATION   SOCIETY, 

530  ARCH   STREET. 


f\   t 


CONTENTS. 


Introduction, 9 

ORIGIN  OP  THE  SOCIETY,  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  1824, 13 

Original  Constitution, 15 

Progress  of  the  Society  in  1824, '. 19 

Original  Principles  and  Views  of  its  Founders, ~..  19 

FIRST  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1825, 26 

SECOND  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1826, 28 

THIRD  AKNUAL  MEETING,  at  Philadelphia,  1827 31 

Baptist  Tract  Magazine,  \.  32 

Catalogue  of  Tracts,  in  1826-7, 33 

FOURTH  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1828., 34 

Baptist  Statistics,  37 

FIFTH  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1829,  40 

Manifold  Usefulness  of  the  Society, 42 

SIXTH  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1830, 45 

Tracts  for  every  Church, 47 

Sabbath-Schools, 49 

Death  of  Rev.  Noah  Davis, 50 

SEVENTH  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1831, 50 

Monthly  Tract  Distributions, 55 

Monthly  Tract  Publications, 56 

EIGHTH  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1832, 56 

Memorable  Testimonies,  58 

Letter  of  Dr.  Judson — Demand  for  Burman  Tracts, 61 

NINTH  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1833, 62 

Influence  of  our  Tracts  in  Germany.     Rev.  J.  GL  Oncken, 63 

The  West  and  South  West.     The  Aborigines, 64 

Tract  Magazine,  etc, 66 

Two  Plans  of  Depositories.     Results, 67 

Obligations  of  the  Society.     Rev.  D.  Cameron, 68 

TENTH  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1834, 69 

M134197          (8) 


4  CONTENTS 

PASB 

Vindication  of  the  Principles  of  the  Society, 69 

Work  of  the  Year, 73 

ELEVENTH  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1835....... 74 

Tract  House  Fund, 75 

The  Baptist  Manual, 75 

New  Efforts  Abroad.     Burmah, 76 

Germany.     First  Baptist  Church  at  Hamburg, 76 

TWELFTH  ANNUAL  MEEEING,  1836,  78 

The  Mississippi  Valley  Fund,  80 

THIRTEENTH  ANNUAL  MEETIN.G,  1837, 81 

The  Tract  Enterprise, 82 

FOURTEENTH  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1838, 87 

A  Proposition  Urged.     Pengilly's  Scripture  Guide, 88 

Baptist  Record.     Triennial  Register, 90 

Work  at  Home  and  Abroad, 90 

Dr.  Sears,  on  Germany, 94 

Adjourned  Meeting.     Resolutions, 98 

FIFTEENTH  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1839, 99 

Duty  of  the  Denomination  to  this  Cause,  102 

Enlargement  of  the  Society  Proposed, 103 

Resignation  of  the  Rev.  I.  M.  Allen,  , 104 

SIXTEENTH  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1840, 105 

The  Society's  Work  in  Sixteen  Years, 107 


II. 

New  Organization  desired  as  early  as  1835, 113 

A  Baptist  Sunday-School  Union  proposed  in  1839, ^ M4 

Broader  Plan  of  the  Board.     Appeal, 114 

The  Reorganization  in  1840.     New  Name, 117 

Technical  Errors, 120 

SEVENTEENTH  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1841, 121 

Want  of  Working  Capital, 123 

Weekly  Baptist  Record,.. 123 

A  Baptist  Hymn  Book  proposed, 124 

Work  of  Colportage.     The  First  in  America,  124 

Counting  the  Cost  of  the  Enterprise, 126 

EIGHTEENTH  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1842, 128 

Plans  formed,  but  delayed, 129 

Waste  of  Energy,  Time,  and  Means,  130 

The  Question  of  Life  or  Death, 131 

NINETEENTH    ANNUAL   MEETING,  1843, 133 


CONTENTS.  5 

FACtl 

Common  Mistakes  as  to  the  Society.     Its  great  Object, 134 

The  Means  necessary  to  Accomplish  its  Object,  135 

Work  of  the  Year, 137 

New  Resolutions, 138 

The  Circular  of  1843, 140 

Appendix  to  the  Circular, 144 

TWENTIETH  ANNUAL  MEETING, 144 

The  Psalmist, 145 

Cheap  Monthly  Periodicals, 145 

Value  of  Colportage, 146 

Proposed  Fifty  Thousand  Dollar  Fund, 148 

Matter  of  Fact  Appeal, 149 

The  Weekly  Record.     Changes  in  the  Constitution,  150 

Encouragements, 151 

The  Circular  of  1844.     The  $50,000  Fund, 152 

TWENTY-FIRST  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1845, 152 

Loan  of  $2,400  necessary,  153 

Complete  Works  of  Andrew  Fuller, , 154 

Dr.  Carson  on  Baptism, 155 

Other  Works  of  the  Year, 155 

Two  Plans  of  Colportage, 156 

Axuiliary  Societies.     Book  Funds, 158 

Grateful  Review, 160 

Astounding  Facts, 160 

Claims  of  the  Society, 163 

Important  Principles  of  the  Society, 166 

TWENTY-SECOND  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1846, 167 

Howell  on  Communion  and  on  the  Deaconship, 168 

Quarterly  Baptist  Record, 169 

Colporteurs.     New  Views, 170 

Colporteur  Missionaries,  172 

German  population, 174 

The  Foreign  Field, 177 

Corresponding  Secretary.     Rev.  T.  S.  Malcom, 179 

Resolutions.     Resignation  of  Rev.  J.  M.  Peck, 181 

The  Ten  Thousand  Dollar  Fund,  for  Gratuities, 181 

Special  Meeting  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y., 182 

Defect  of  Materials, 183 

TWENTY-THIRD  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1847, 184 

Annual  Report  of  the  Board, ,  185 

Books  Circulated.     Fuller's  Works, 185 

Resolutious, 187 

Prospects, 189 


6  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

TWENTY-FOURTH  ANNUAL  MEEEING,  1848, 189 

Annual  Report, „ 189 

Resolutions, 190 

Pengilly  in  French, 191 

TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1849, 192 

Annual  Report  of  the  Board, 192 

Resolutions, 193 

TWENTY-SIXTH  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1850, 194 

Annual  Report  of  the  Board, 195 

Appointment  of  an  Editor, 196 

Improvement  in  Books, 196 

Removal  of  Depository.     $25,000  Building  Fund, 197 

Failure  of  Negotiation, 197 

Historical  Paper, 197 

Resolutions, 198 

New  Depository.     Building  Funds, 199 

Annual  Day  of  Prayer  for  the  Society, 199 

Editorial  Secretary, 200 

TWENTY-SEVENTH  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1851, 200 

Annual  Report  of  the  Board.     New  Publications, 200 

Ten  Thousand  Dollar  Fund, 201 

Permanent  Charter.     Building  Fund, 202 

Proceedings  and  Resolutions, 202 

Increase  of  Stock, 204 

Annual  Report  of  1852, 204 

TWENTY-EIGHTH  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1852, 204 

Annual  Report  of  the  Board, 205 

New  Publications.     Bunyan's  Practical  Works, 205 

Colporteur  Missionaries.     Liberal  Brethren, 206 

Addresses  and  Resolutions, 207 

Collection  for  Mr.  Oncken, 208 

Bunyan's  Works, 209 

TWENTY-NINTH  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1853, 209 

Annual  Report  of  the  Board, 209 

American  Baptist  Register  for  1852,  210 

Circulation  of  Books, 211 

Sunday-School  Department, 212 

Historical  Department, 213 

Colporteur  Department, 213 

Annual  Report  Continued, 217 

Prayer  for  the  Editorial  Secretary, 218 

Special  Meeting  Proposed, 219 

Resignation  of  Rev.  T.  S.  Malcom, 219 

(3 


CONTENTS.  7 

PAGE 

Choice  of  a  Successor.     Rev.  Heman  Lincoln, 220 

Rev.  William  Shadrach.    Resolutions, 220 

American  Baptist  Historical  Society, 221 

THIRTIETH  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1854 223 

Report  of  the  Board, 224 

Colportage  the  Right  Arm  of  the  Society, 226 

Foreign  Colportage, 227 

Building  Fund.     Publishing  Fund, 229 

First  Report  of  the  Am.  Baptist  Historical  Society, 229 

Committees  on  the  Annual  Report  of  the  Board,  230 

Addresses  and  Annual  Sermon,  230 

THIRTY-FIRST  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1855, 231 

Report  of  the  Board,  231 

Amended  Form  of  Constitution, 233 

Branch  Depositories, 233 

Colportage  in  Sweden, 236 

THIRTY-SECOND  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1856, 238 

General  Retrospect  of  the  Thirty-two  years, 238 

Retrenchment  in  the  Publishing  Department, 241 

Sales,  Receipts,  and  Disbursements, 242 

Benevolent  Funds  Overdrawn,  242 

Destitution  and  Gratuitous  Distributions,  243 

Branch  Depositories.     Chicago, 244 

The  Society  a  Denominational  Necessity, 245 

The  Great  Want, 247 

The  Present  Effort.    $100-,000  Fund, 247 

Reasons  for  this  Effort, 249 

Agencies, 252 

Testimony  of  Agents, 253 

Colportage, 258 

Colportage  a  Complete  System  of  Evangelism, 260 

Colportage  established  in  Sweden, , 261 

Resolutions, 265 

Conclusion, 267 

Advertisement, - 268 

APPENDIX, 269 

Constitution  of  the  Society,  272 

Historical  Table,...  275 


HISTORY. 


1,  Introduction, 

THE  falling  of  an  apple  is  said  to  have  suggested  to 
the  mind  of  Sir  Isaac  Newton  the  universal  law  of  gravi- 
tation. The  falling  of  a  tract  from  the  hat  of  Rev.  Samuel 
Cornelius,  of  Alexandria,  suggested  to  the  mind  of  NOAH 
DAVTS  the  idea  of  the  Baptist  General  Tract  Society  —  the 
germ  of  the  American  Baptist  Publication  Society.*  How 

*  It  would  seem  that  something  of  the  kind  had  occurred  to  the  minds 
of  others  four  years  earlier,  though  unknown  to  Mr.  Davis.  The  time 
for  its  accomplishment  had  not  then  come.  But  honor  to  whom  honor 
is  due.  We  give  the  following  interesting  extract  of  a  letter  from  Mr. 
John  S.  Meehan,  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  to  Rev.  B.  E.  Loxley,  of  Phila- 
delphia, dated 

"  Washington,  Sept.  27,  1855. 

"When  I  resided  in  Philadelphia,  I  had  charge  of  a  class  in  the  San- 
som  Street  Sunday-School,  and  almost  every  month  had  a  difficulty  in 
dealing  out  tracts  to  the  children,  on  account  of  their  anti-Baptist 
tendencies.  [This  was  prior  to  1820.]  No  Baptist  tracts  were  then 
printed.  I  was  the  printer  of  the  Baptist  Board  of  Foreign  Missions 
at  the  time,  and  determined  to  propose  the  establishment  of  a  Baptist 
Tract  Society  in  Philadelphia,  with  the  intention  of  making  it  the  com- 
mencement of  a  General  Society.  In  compliance  with  this  design,  I 
had  two  tracts  set  in  type,  as  the  first  publications  to  be  submitted  to 
the  society  when  formed. 

"  The  subject  was  not  matured  in  Philadelphia,  owing  to  the  determi- 

(9) 


10  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 

that  idea  was  unfolded,  and  embodied  in  organic  form,  we 
propose  to  show. 

A  few  words  of  preliminary  statement  may  be  necessary, 
in  order  that  the  facts  of  the  case  may  be  clearly  under- 
stood. At  that  time — the  beginning  of  1824 — there  was 
no  National  Tract  Society  in  the  United  States ;  unless 
that  character  could  be  assigned  in  a  lax  sense  to  the 
Methodist  Book  Concern  in  the  city  of  New  York.  That 
great  establishment,  which  has  done  so  much  in  feeding 
and  building  up  Methodism  in  this  country,  commenced 
its  gigantic  labors  in  It 88,  when  that  remarkable  mis- 
sionary system  was  in  its  infancy,  which  is  now  known 

nation  of  the  Baptist  Convention  [in  April,  1820]  to  found  a  College  and 
Theological  Seminary  in  Washington,  and  to  remove  the  publications  of 
the  Board  of  Missions  and  the  Board  itself  to  Washington.  When  we 
arrived  in  Washington,  I  proposed  to  found  the  General  Tract  Society 
here.  But  it  was  not  deemed  advisable  at  the  time  to  do  so,  as  all  the 
effective  Baptist  force  hero  was  engaged  energetically  in  advancing  the 
prosperity  of  the  College,  and  the  publication  of  the  Columbian  Star,  a 
weekly,  religious  newspaper,  and  the  Latter  Day  Luminary,  a  magazine 
which  was  originated  in  Philadelphia  in  the  year  1818,  as  the  official 
publication  of  the  Board  of  Missions  under  the  authority  of  the  General 
Convention. 

"Although  the  establishment  of  a  Baptist  Tract  Society  wa's  not 
matured  in  Philadelphia,  it  was  originated  there  in  its  design,  and 
founded  on  the  necessity  existing  for  such  an  institution.  The  young 
brethren  at  the  Theological  Institution  in  Philadelphia,  under  the  care 
of  Dr.  Staughton  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Chase,  knew  of  the  design,  and 
gave  it  their  sanction.  Ultimately  it  was  brought  into  being  by  them  in 
the  Columbian  College  four  years  after  their  removal  to  Washington, 
and  before  my  connection  with  the  Board  had  terminated  as  printer. 
The  first  tracts  were  printed  while  I  had  charge  of  the  printing  estab- 
lishment under  the  Board  of  Missions. 

"  One  year  before  we  left  Philadelphia,  [1819]  I  originated  the  *  BAP- 
TIST ALMANAC.'  This  was  the  first  religious  Almanac  ever  published,  I 
believe.  Upwards  of  3000  copies  of  it  [for  the  year  1820]  were  printed, 
and  they  sold  very  rapidly.  The  whole  edition  was  sold.  The  second 
number  of  it  for  the  year  1821,  was  in  type.  It  was  taken  with  our 
printing  office  to  Washington,  but  was  not  published." 


INTRODUCTION.  1 1 

as  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  the  United  States. 
Besides  the  Book  Concern,  there  was  in  the  beginning  of 
1824  in  the  city  of  New  York,  another  institution,  called 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Tract  Society,  established  as  early 
as  1810.  In  Boston  there  was  also  the  Evangelical  Tract 
Society,  dating  from  1811,  originated  and  managed  chiefly 
by  Baptists,  among  whom  ENSIGN  LINCOLN  was  dis- 
tinguished for  his  zeal  and  activity.  There  was  also  in 
the  same  city  a  Congregational  Institution,  founded  in 
1814,  at  Andover,  as  the  New  England  Tract  Society,  but 
reorganized  in  1823,  at  Boston,  under  the  more  ambitious 
name  of  the  "American  Tract  Society;"  but,  like  all  the 
others  which  we  have  named,  (the  Evangelical  Tract 
Society  excepted,)  its  operations  were  both  local  and  de- 
nominational in  character.  Its  auxiliaries  were  limited  to 
the  narrow  field  of  New  England,  and  to  the  Congrega- 
tional Churches.  It  had  indeed  absorbed  into  itself  when 
it  assumed  its  national  title,  the  "Connecticut  Religious 
Tract  Society,"  formed  in  1807,  and  the  "Vermont  Religious 
Tract  Society,"  formed  in  1808,  but-  was  still  confined  in 
fact  to  a  very  narrow  range,  though  accomplishing  much 
good  among  its  own  denomination  in  New  England. 

Such  was  the  provision  made  by  the  Press  to  meet  the 
religious  wants  of  this  country  in  the  beginning  of  the 
year  1824.  The  utility  of  Tracts  as  a  medium  of  religious 
instruction  had  been  made  familiar  by  experience  ever  since 
the  .origin  of  the  "  London  Religious  Tract  Society,"  in 
1799,  of  which,  under  God,  GEORGE  BURDER  and  JOSEPH 
HUGHES  may  be  considered  the  principal  founders.  It  was 
generally  admitted  that  no  other  mode  of  disseminating 
truth  presented  equal  facilities,  or  required  so  small  an 
outlay  for  the  amount  of  usefulness  accomplished.  It  was 
seen  that  the  United  States  opened  a  vast  field,  already 
whitening  for  the  harvest — accessible  at  all  points — with  a 


12  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

population  of  more  than  ten  millions  of  sonls — and  rapidly 
increasing  under  the  peaceful  administration  of  Mr.  Monroe, 
then  President  of  the  Union.  The  preaching  of  the  Gospel 
was  limited  greatly  by  the  want  of  ministers  of  the  Gospel ; 
by  the  scattered  condition  of  a  large  portion  of  the  people, 
and  by  the  indifference  of  multitudes  to  the  ordinary  ser- 
vices of  the  sanctuary.*  The  circulation  of  Bibles,  to  which 
the  formation  of  the  American  Bible  Society  in  1816  had 
given  a  powerful  impulse,  was  necessarily  limited  by  the 
bulk  and  cost  of  the  precious  volume ;  but  Tracts  by  their 
cheapness,  their  simplicity,  point,  variety  and  brevity,  were 
seen  to  be  adapted  to  an  unlimited  circulation — reaching 
the  most  secluded  dwelling, — arresting  the  most  careless 
traveler  by  land  or  sea,  with  words  of  warning  and  of 
salvation — and  acting  as  pioneers  both  to  the  missionary 
and  the  Bible. 

*  We  copy  the  following  statement  of  the  Baptist  churches  at  this  time 
from  the  First  Annual  Report,  presented  in  Feb.  28,  1825. 

"  According  to  the  table  of  Associations  published  by  the  Baptist 
Board  of  Missions,  there  are  in  the  United  States.  3594  Baptist  churches, 
containing  about  225,000  members.  The  number  of  ministers  is  esti- 
mated at  2219.  There  are  then  1375  churches  without  settled  pastors. 
These  churches  may  be  computed  to  contain  85,000  members.  It  would 
be  within  the  truth,  to  fix  the  number  of  persons  who  by  family  ties  and 
other  circumstances  are  attracted  to  the  Baptist  congregations,  at  twice 
that  of  the  members.  This  estimate  presents  a  total  of  255,000  persons, 
who  are  deprived  of  regular  religious  instruction.  Many  of  theso 
churches  have  no  stated  preaching.  The  Sabbath  is  not  hallowed  by 
the  service  of  the  house  of  God.  The  ordinances  of  the  Gospel  are 
seldom  enjoyed." 

These  statistics  include  Anti-Mission  and  Seventh  Day  Baptists,  who 
could  not  together  bo  estimated  at  less  than  75,000.  The  former  class, 
happily,  does  not  increase,  and  is  now  no  larger  than  it  was  then.  Do- 
ducting  this,  it  will  be  seen  that  there  were  only  about  150,000  regular 
Baptist  communicants  in  1824  'In  1854,  they  had  increased  to  842,000. 


ITS   ORIGIN  AT   WA9H7tfG*ON;" 


2.  Its  Origin  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

The  following  letter  from  GEORGE  WOOD,  Esq.,  of  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.,  the  first  General  Agent  of  the  Baptist 
General  Tract  Society,  gives  the  facts  of  its  origin  and 
early  history,  in  an  original  and  authentic  form. 

"  Washington,  March  25th,  1853. 

"  Rev.  J.  Newton  Brown, 

"  Dear  Bro. :  I  have  received  yours  of  the  10th  inst., 
requesting  me  to  give  you  my  recollections  of  the  forma- 
tion and  early  history  of  the  Baptist  General  Tract  Society. 
I  have  delayed  to  reply  until  I  could  make  such  examina- 
tion as  would  enable  me  to  put  down  the  dates  with  all 
accuracy.  This  I  am  now  able  to  do,  and  I  give  you  my 
recollections  with  pleasure. 

"At  the  time  of  the  organization  of  this  Society,  the 
Columbian  College  was  in  full  operation.  Among  the 
students  in  the  senior  class  was  my  much  loved  friend 
James  D.  Knowles,  who  then  edited  the  Columbian  Star, 
a  weekly  paper,  with  signal  ability  and  success.  This  paper 
was  printed  at  the  Columbian  office  in  E  street,  at  that 
time,  next  my  residence.  Mr.  Knowles  was,  from  neces- 
sity, much  of  his  time  in  the  city,  and  made  my  house  his 
home.  His  '  chum'  at  his  entrance  into  the  college  was 
the  Rev.  NOAH  DAVIS,  of  Salisbury,  Maryland.  Davis 
left  the  college  without  graduating,  and  was  ordained  at 
Salisbury  on  the  21st  of  December,  1823. 

"In  the  February  following,  Mr.  Knowles  received  a 
letter  from  Mr.  Davis,  of  which  the  following  is  an 
extract : — 

" '  I  have  been  thinking  for  some  time  past  how  a  Tract 
Society  can  be  got  up  in  Washington,  which  shall  hold 
the  same  place  among  the  Baptists,  that  the  American 
2 


14  .AJMLERTGAN  ;  BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 


IVact  'Society*  does  among  the  Congregationalists.  I 
feel  very  much  the  necessity  of  having  Tracts  to  scatter 
in  the  waste  places.  It  is  a  plan  of  doing  good  but 
little  known  among  Baptists.  No  place  is  more  suitable 
for  such  a  society,  &c.' 

"This  was  a  matter  of  much  conversation  with  Mr. 
Knowles  and  myself.  It  was  seen  that  the  agent  of  the 
society  must  bear  the  weight  of  it ;  and  of  all  our  circle 
there  was  no  one  but  myself  that  was  not  already  burdened 
by  duties  to  the  College,  to  the  Board  of  Missions,  to 
the  Education  Society  ;  for  in  these  days  every  thing  cen- 
tered in  Washington.  If  I  would  agree  to  be  the  agent, 
then  Mr.  Knowles  said  he  would  push  the  matter,  through 
the  columns  of  the  Star — and  so  it  rested  for  a  week  or 
more.  My  health  was  very  wretched  at  the  time,  being  a 
confirmed  dyspeptic,  occasioned  by  my  office  life  in  Wash- 
ington ;  but  I  was  prevailed  upon  to  consent.  It  seemed 
too  great  a  matter  to  be  delayed  for  want  of  any  aid  I 
could  tender. 

"Accordingly  on  the  21st  of  February,  1824,  the  fol- 
lowing notice  appeared  in  the  Star : — 

***  Those  persons  who  are  disposed  to  assist  in  form- 
ing a  Baptist  General  Tract  Society  in  this  city,  are  re- 
quested to  meet  at  the  house  of  Mr.  George  Wood,  on 
Wednesday  evening,  (20$  inst.)  at  f  o'clock. 

"  A  meeting  was  held,  pursuant  to  notice,  which  was  pre- 
sided over  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wm.  Staughton,  President  of 
the  Columbian  College.  The  constitution  which  had  been 
drafted  by  Mr.  Knowles,  was  offered,  amended,  and 

*  Then  in  Boston — not  the  truly  national  institution  afterwards  formed 
in  New  York. 


ITS  ORIGIN    AT   WASHINGTON.  15 

adopted,*  and  the  following  officers  were  chosen  for  the 
year  ensuing.  I  give  the  names,  that  you  may  see  who 
were  the  active  members  at  that  day  in  Washington. 


*  This  original  Constitution  is  too  important  as  a  matter  of  history 
and  reference  to  be  omitted.  We  insert  it  here. 

CONSTITUTION   OF   THE   BAPTIST   GENERAL   TRACT   SOCIETY. 

(Feb.  20th,  1824.) 

ART.  I.  The  name  of  this  Society  shall  be  "The  Baptist  General 
Tract  Society."  Its  sole  object  shall  be  to  disseminate  evangelical 
truth,  and  to  inculcate  sound  morals,  by  the  distribution  of  tracts. 

ART.  II.  Any  person  may  become  a  member  of  this  Society,  by 
paying  the  sum  of  one  dollar  annually.  The  payment  of  ten  dollars  at 
one  time,  shall  constitute  a  person  a  member  for  life. 

ART.  III.  There  shall  be  an  annual  meeting  of  the  Society  on  the  last 
Wednesday  in  February,  when  the  following  officers  shall  be  chosen  by 
ballot,  viz.: — A  President,  Vice-President,  Agent,  Recording  Secre- 
tary, Treasurer,  and  a  Board  of  Directors,  consisting  of  the  President, 
Vice-President,  Agent,  Recording  Secretary,  and  Treasurer,  who  shall 
be  Directors  in  consequence  of  their  office;  and  seven  members  of  the 
Society.  Five  Directors  shall  constitute  a  quorum  for  business.  The 
Board  shall  have  power  to  supply  any  vacancy  that  may  occur  in  its 
own  body. 

ART.  IV.  The  Directors  shall  superintend  the  publication  and  distri- 
bution of  such  tracts  as  they  shall  approve ;  the  appointment  of  subor- 
dinate agents;  the  establishment  of  depositories;  the  formation  of  aux- 
iliary societies,  &c.  They  shall  hold  frequent  meetings,  under  such 
regulations  as  they  may  adopt,  in  conformity  with  the  general  provisions 
of  the  Constitution.  They  shall  appoint  the  place  and  the  hour  for  the 
annual  meeting  of  the  Society;  and  may,  if  they  think  proper,  make 
arrangements  for  an  annual  sermon,  or  public  addresses,  and  a  collection 
for  the  benefit  of  the  Society.  The  Directors  and  the  Treasurer  shall 
make  an  annual  report  of  their  proceedings. 

ART.  V.  The  Agent  shall  conduct  the  correspondence  of  the  Society, 
and  shall  carry  into  effect  the  measures  adopted  by  the  Board  of  Directors. 

ART.  VI.  The  Recording  Secretary  shall  keep  a  record  of  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  Board  of  Directors,  and  of  the  Society.  He  shall  receive  all 
moneys,  keep  a  record  of  them,  and  pay  them  over  to  the  Treasurer. 

ART.  VII.  Every  member  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  three  fourths  of 
the  amount  of  his  subscription  in  tracts,  at  cost.  Auxiliary  societies 
shall  be  entitled  to  the  same  privilege. 


16  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

Rev.  Obadiah  B.  Brown,  President. 

Rev.  John  Bryce,  Vice  President. 

Mr.  George  Wood,  Agent. 

Mr.  Isaac  G.  Hutton,  Recording  Secretary. 

Rev.  Luther  Rice,  Treasurer. 

Directors. — Rev.  Wm.  Staughton,  Rev.  S.  W.  Lynd, 
Joseph  Gibson,  Joseph  Shaw,  Enoch  Reynolds,  Reuben 
Johnson,  and  James  D.  Knowles. 

v 

"As  soon  as  this  Society  was  made  public  through 
the  columns  of  the  Star,  it  was  every  where  welcomed 
by  our  brethren,  and  I  at  once  found  myself  in  the  midst 
of  a  wide-spread  correspondence.  Among  those  who  were 
its  first  and  best  friends,  stand  the  names  of  Rev.  ABNER 
W.  CLOPTON,  of  Charlotte,  Yirginia ;  Rev.  JESSE  MERCER, 
of  Powelton,  Georgia ;  Rev.  ELI  BALL,  of  Lynchburg, 
Ya.  ;  Rev.  C.  D.  MALLORY,  of  Columbia,  S.  C.,  by 
whose  agencies  auxiliary  societies  were  formed ;  and  on 
the  llth  of  December,  1824,  'Mr.  Knowles,  in  an  article 
concerning  the  Society,  says — '  The  Tract  Society  is  ad- 
vancing with  great  zeal  and  success  in  the  fulfillment  of 
its  duties.  Since  its  organization  in  February  last  it  has 
printed  nineteen  tracts,  amounting  to  one  hundred  arid 
fifty-six  pages,  and  86,500  copies,1  (of  which  the  list  is 
given)  and  adds — '  It  is  designed  to  employ  active  agents, 
as  soon  as  possible,  to  assist  in  forming  auxiliary  societies 
to  procure  subscriptions,  life  memberships,  &c. ,  &c. y 

"  It  was  not  long  before  the  unsuitableness  of  Washing- 
ton as  the  seat  of  publication  began  to  be  felt.  Our  first 

ART.  VIII.  Any  person,  by  paying  twenty-five  dollars  at  ono  time, 
shall  be  a  Director  for  life.  The  Presidents  of  auxiliary  societies  shall 
be  ex-officio  members  of  the  Board  of  Directors. 

ART.  IX.  The  President  shall  call  a  meeting  of  the  society,  at  the  re- 
quest of  a  majority  of  the  Board  of  Directors. 

ART.  X.  Any  alterations  of  this  Constitution  may  be  made  at  an  annual 
meeting  by  the  concurrence  of  two-thirds  of  the  members  present. 


ITS  ORIGIN  AT   WASHINGTON.  17 

tracts  were  not  stereotyped,  and  our  editions  were  soon 
exhausted.  So  it  was  determined  to  stereotype  all  future 
Tracts,  as  well  as  those  already  printed.  To  do  this,  the 
selected  Tracts  must  needs  be  sent  to  Philadelphia ;  and 
after  the  Tracts  were  printed  in  Washington,  nearly  one 
half  of  all  published  were  sent  to  Philadelphia  to  be 
shipped  to  Charleston,  Savannah,  and  elsewhere.  And 
here  I  beg  to  acknowledge  the  services  of  Mr.  Simmes, 
apothecary,  in  Chestnut  Street,  Philadelphia,  by  whom  all 
boxes  and  bundles  were  received  and  forwarded  without 
compensation ;  for  all  services  rendered  to  the  Society  in 
those  days  were  without  compensation.  I  have  never  seen 
Mr.  Simmes,  nor  do  I  know  if  he  be  living  now. 

"  It  was  the  aim  and  ambition  of  our  great  and  gifted 
LUTHER  RICE  to  make  Washington  a  Baptist  centre  of 
influence.  And  if  matters  of  money,  of  which  he  knew 
nothing,  had  been  under  the  control  of  men  of  business 
talent,  who  had  been  taught  in  the  science  of  book-keeping, 
(which  no  man  can  acquire  without  practice  after  thirty 
years  of  age,)  then  the  foresight  and  far-reaching  sagacity 
of  brother  Luther  would  ere  this  have  been  demonstrated  in 
the  moral  influence  we  as  Baptists  would  exert  over  a  wide- 
spread union  of  States.  Every  body  in  and  near  our  city 
went  for  centralization,  and  our  little  Baptist  General 
Tract  Society,  when  organized,  became  part  and  parcel  of 
brother  Luther's  grand  scheme ;  and  no  embarrassments  in 
the  successful  working  out  of  the  plans  and  purposes  of 
this  Tract  Society  in  the  city  of  Washington  was  to  be 
regarded.  To  talk  of  removing  this  Society  to  Philadel- 
phia, was  a  sort  of  treason,  and  I  was  the  first  to  talk  of  it ; 
for  I  was  the  first  to  feel  the  necessity  of  its  removal.  It 
seemed  to  me  not  only  inexpedient  to  retain  it  here,  but  a 
great  wrong  done  to  the  cause,  to  restrain  the  usefulness 
of  a  Society  so  admirably  adapted  to  a  wide  sphere  of  ever- 
increasing  usefulness. 
2* 


18  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

"At  the  Annual  Meeting  held  on  the  28th  of  February, 
1 825,  I  made  an  earnest  effort  to  induce  the  members  in 
Washington  to  agree  to  a  removal.  I  made  a  full  and  fair 
representation  of  all  the  trouble  I  had  had  in  sending 
tracts  away ;  the  delay  for  want  of  a  packet  vessel  and  of 
lines  of  transportation ;  and  the  discontent  existing  among 
the  auxiliary  societies  at  the  slowness  of  publication  and  of 
distribution  ;  but  all  these  statements  were  unavailing.  It 
was  with  great  reluctance  I  consented  to  act  as  Agent  for 
the  year  ensuing.  In  this  year  (1825),  the  affairs  of  the 
College  became  more  and  more  embarrassed,  and  loss  of 
confidence  in  the  College  affairs,  of  which  Luther  Rice  was 
Agent  and  Treasurer,  extended  to  the  concerns  of  the  Bap- 
tist General  Tract  Society.  My  position  as  Agent  became 
more  and  more  painful.  I  was  weary  of  writing  letters  of 
explanation  and  apology. 

"At  the  close  of  the  second  year,  Rev.  NOAH  DAVIS, 
who  was  a  Mr.  Greatheart  in  his  day,  deeply  realizing  the 
necessity  of  a  change  of  locality,  came  up  to  see  me,  and 
offered  to  assume  the  office  of  Agent,  if  the  Society  was 
removed  to  Philadelphia ;  for  our  brethren  there  had  been 
consulted  and  were  ready  to  accept  all  its  duties  and  re- 
sponsibilities. A  meeting  was  held  at  my  house,  and  the 
question  was  presented  to  the  Officers  and  Directors  present; 
but  though  the  monied  affairs  of  the  College  were  dark  and 
desperate,  and  fast  approaching  the  SLOUGH  OF  DESPOND 
into  which  they  were  soon  after  plunged  (but  out  of  which 
they  are  now  happily  emerging),  Luther  Rice,  with  his 
lion-hearted  courage  and  confidence  in  the  greatness  of  his 
strength,  would  not  consent  to  the  removal.  As  a  last 
resort,  hoping  to  compel  a  change,  I  resigned  the  Agency, 
which  had  been  only  fruitful,  to  me,  of  toil  and  suffering. 
The  office  of  Agent  was  taken  by  Rev.  BARON  STOW  (now 
of  Boston),  who  held  it  for  a  short  time.  But  the  end  in 
Washington  was  at  hand.  It  was  seen  that  there  could  be 


PROGEESS,    ORIGINAL   PRINCIPLES,    ETC.  19 

no  postponement  of  the  question — removal  or  annihilation 
— and  the  earnest  entreaties  of  NOAH  DAVIS  were  at  last 
successful. 

"With  regard  to  the  history  of  the  Society  from  the 
time  of  its  removal  to  Philadelphia,  you  need  no  aid  from 
me  in  remembering  its  developments.  It  has  far  exceeded 
my  hopes.  Its  operations  have  been  growing  wider  and 
wider,  and  taking  a  loftier  range.  I  rejoice  in  all  I  hear  of 
of  its  success,  and  hope  the  circle  of  its  usefulness  will  only 
be  bounded  by  the  wants  of  mankind. 

"  With  great  regard,  yours, 

"GEORGE   WOOD." 


3.  Progress  in  1824.    Original  Principles,  and  Views  of  its  Founders, 

The  above  communication  from  the  first  Agent  of  the 
Society  is  invaluable,  as  giving  an  authentic  account  of  the 
origin,  and  progress  of  the  Society,  for  the  first  three  years, 
together  with  the  causes  and  means  of  its  removal  from 
Washington  to  Philadelphia,  late  in  the  Fall  of  1826.  But 
it  is  necessary  to  go  beyond  this  general  view  in  a  history 
like  this,  and  enter  into  the  actual  details  and  spirit  of  the 
times.  Happily  we  are  able  to  do  this  from  published 
records. 

The  first  Tract  issued  by  the  Baptist  General  Tract  So- 
ciety in  1824,  contained  its  Constitution,  and  the  names  of 
its  Original  Officers.  As  we  have  seen,  Rev.  0.  B.  Brown 
was  President;  Mr.  George  Wood,  Agent;  Rev.  Luther 
Rice,  Treasurer ;  and  Rev.  Dr.  Staughton,  President  of  the 
Board  of  Directors.  It  also  contained  a  Circular  addressed 
by  the  Board  to  the  public,  setting  forth  its  objects,  alms, 
and  claims,  from  which  we  extract  the  following  : 

"  The  Baptists  of  this  country  have  hitherto  had  little 


20  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

agency  in  the  distribution  of  Tracts.  The  principal  reason 
is  probably  to  be  found  in  the  absence  of  a  General  Society, 
as  a  common  centre  of  action.  Men,  in  all  circumstances, 
are  less  interested,  and  co-operate  less  readily,  in  the 
measures  of  those  with  whom  they  have  remote  connections, 
than  of  those  to  whom  they  are  united  by  common  princi- 
ples and  kindred  feelings.  This  is  a  law  of  our  nature ; 
and  hence  were  nothing  to  be  apprehended  from  variance 
and  distrust,  it  would  still  be  advisable  to  leave  the  several 
denominations  of  Christians  to  concert  and  execute  their 
own  schemes  for  the  advancement  of  their  common  faith. 
Particular  occasions  may  call  for  unitefl  action.  Bible 
Societies,  which  aim  merely  to  multiply  copies  of  the  great 
charter  of  our  religion,  have  a  special  claim  on  the  cordial 
aid  of  all  Christians.  But  most  of  the  benevolent  enter- 
prises of  the  age,  have  been  originated  and  sustained  by 
individual  sects,  which  have  selected  for  themselves  a  par- 
ticular station  in  the  field,  and  have  rallied  at  that  point  all 
their  forces.  A  much  greater  number  of  individuals  have 
thus  been  brought  to  act,  in  the  numerous  offices  of  trust 
and  toil,  necessary  to  carry  forward  these  enterprises.  A 
greater  extent  of  influence  is  consequently  at  work.  The 
partialities,  and  even  the  sectarian  feelings,  which  operate  on 
the  minds  of  most  men,  are  thus  made  tributary  to  the 
common  object.  Individuals  act  mutually  on  each  other, 
and  a  chain  of  communication  is  formed,  conveying  the 
animating  impulse  to  every  family  and  every  bosom. 

"  The  preceding  remarks  are  particularly  applicable  to 
Tract  Societies.  Tracts  are  either  summary  expositions  of 
Christian  doctrines  and  precepts,  or  narratives  of  the  effects 
of  Christian  principles.  They  are  compiled  by  men,  and 
consequently  receive  some  shape  and  color  from  the  minds 
of  their  authors.  The  true  Christian  is  naturally  desirous 
to  be  assured,  before  he  circulates  a  Tract,  that  it  contains 
the  truths  that  are  taught  in  the  Scriptures.  The  interest, 


PROGRESS,   ORIGINAL   PRINCIPLES,    ETC.  21 

therefore,  which  he  will  take  in  the  operations  of  a  Tract 
Society,  is  proportional  to  the  confidence  he  feels  in  the 
correctness  of  the  sentiments  of  its  Managers.  It  is  scarcely 
necessary  to  state  the  inference,  that  the  several  denomina- 
tions of  Christians  cannot  be  expected  to  engage  vigorously 
in  the  distribution  of  Tracts,  until  they  form  Societies  and 
print  Tracts  for  themselves.  These  are  the  leading  motives 
for  the  formation  of  the  'Baptist  General  Tract  Society.' 
Experience  had  shown  the  necessity  of  an  association  of 
this  kind.  A  general  and  harmonious  system  of  operations 
cannot  be  formed,  without  a  central  Society. — Therefore 
the  Board  of  Directors  confidently  believe  that  this  Society 
will  secure  the  good  wishes  and  receive  the  co-operation  of 
their  brethren. 

"The  object  of  the  Society,  as  stated  in  its  Constitution, 
is  '  to  disseminate  evangelical  truth,  and  to  inculcate  sound 
morals,  by  the  distribution  of  Tracts.'  The  Tracts  will, 
for  the  most  part,  be  confined  to  practical  subjects ;  but  the 
Directors  will  feel  themselves  at  liberty  to  advocate,  occa- 
sionally, with  Christian  candor,  the  doctrines  and  forms 
which  Baptists  believe  and  practice. 

"  The  Board  appeal  with  confidence  to  the  pious  zeal  of 
their  brethren,  to  aid  them  in  their  efforts  to  fulfill  the 
duties  of  the  Society.  They  earnestly  invite  them  to  form 
auxiliary  Societies,  to  make  donations  to  the  funds,  to 
become  Life  Members,  and  in  any  other  way  to  lend  their 
assistance." 

At  the  same  time  the  following  Resolutions  were  passed 
and  published  by  the  Board  of  Directors  : 

"  Resolved,  That  any  member  of  the  Society,  or  of  its 
auxiliaries,  may  recommend  to  the  Board  Tracts  for  publi- 
cation, which,  if  approved  by  the  Publishing  Committee, 
shall  be  printed  by  the  Society. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  members  of  the  Society,  and  of  its 
auxiliaries,  as  well  as  other  persons,  be  requested  to  com- 


22  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

municate  to  the  Board,  through  the  several  Agents,  or  other- 
wise, any  well  authenticated  instances  of  the  beneficial 
effects  of  Tracts,  to  be  published  in  the  Reports  of  the 
Society." 

The  Agent,  Mr.  GEORGE  WOOD,  also  issued  a  circular  to 
the  same  effect,  soliciting  general  co-operation  in  its  design, 
and  inviting  active  correspondence. 

The  pamphlet  (Tract  No.  1)  containing  the  above  ex- 
tracts, Resolutions  and  Circular,  was  closed  by  an  Appen- 
dix, showing  by  various  examples  the  usefulness  of  Tracts. 
Some  of  the  suggestions  need  to  be  repeated,  now  that  our 
Society  has  more  than  two  hundred  different  Tracts  on  its 
Catalogue.  "  Their  effects  have  been  manifested,"  it  says, 
"  in  the  conversion  of  sinners  to  the  faith  of  the  Gospel ; 
the  reformation  of  the  vicious  ;  and  the  enlightening  of  th'e 
ignorant. 

"  Sabbath  Schools  are  particularly  calculated  to  give  cir- 
culation to  Tracts.  These  may  be  distributed  as  rewards 
to  the  Scholars,  and  thus  they  will  probably  be  read  by  the 
Scholars  themselves,  and  by  their  parents. 

"Domestic  Missionaries  can  distribute  Tracts  in  their 
progress,  and  thus  convey  instruction  to  those  whom  they 
cannot  personally  visit,  and  give  a  deeper  impression  to 
the  truths  which  they  preach. 

"Destitute  Churches  may  very  profitably  be  supplied 
with  Tracts.  Instruction  and  comfort  may  thus  be  obtained, 
where  the  word  of  life  is  not  regularly  preached. 

"  Ministers  of  the  Gospel  have  frequent  opportunities  to 
disperse  Tracts  under  favorable  circumstances.  In  their 
journeys  and  pastoral  visits,  they  never  should  be  unpro- 
vided with  suitable  tracts. 

"  Every  individual  has  daily  opportunities  to  distribute 
Tracts.  If  every  one  should  carry  a  few  tracts  with  him 
constantly,  and  give  them  to  persons  likely  to  profit  by 
them,  it  is  impossible  to  calculate  the  benefit  which  might 


PROGRESS,    ORIGINAL   PRINCIPLES,    ETC.  23 

result.  The  Bible  is  but  a  collection  of  Tracts,  divinely 
inspired,  but  written  by  different  men,  and  in  different  ages 
and  countries. 

"The  infidels  of  France,  during  the  Revolution,  published 
their  doctrines  in  the  form  of  Tracts,  for  the  purpose  of 
extensive  circulation.  Christians  adopted  the  same  expe- 
dient, and  incalculable  good  has  been  the  consequence. 
The  London  Religious  Tract  Society  was  established  in 
1799.  It  has  published  (in  twenty-five  years)  more  than 
50,000,000  of  Tracts.  The  American  Tract  Society  (of 
Boston)  more  than  3,000,000  of  Tracts  (in  ten  years)  since 
1814.  Other  Societies  in  this  country  about  2,000,000 
more." 

From  the  same  pamphlet  we  quote  a  single  short  para- 
graph more,  on  constituting  ministers  and  others  life-mem- 
bers. 

"The  sum  of  ten  dollars,  is  sufficient  to  constitute  a 
person  a  member  for  life.  It  is  customary  for  the  members 
of  congregations,  and  particularly  the  ladies,  to  make  their 
ministers  members  for  life.  It  is  a  graceful  compliment, 
which  costs  little,  and  is  an  essential  aid  to  the  Society. 
If  one  or  two  spirited  individuals  in  a  congregation  would 
use  a  little  exertion,  the  small  sum  required  could,  in  most 
cases,  be  easily  obtained." 

In  reviewing  historically,  at  this  distance  of  time,  the 
above  statement  of  the  principles  on  which  the  Baptist  Gene- 
ral Tract  Society  was  founded  in  1824,  we  may  profitably 
compare  it  with  the  views  put  forth  by  Baptist  brethren  in 
Great  Britain,  in  their  more  recent  organization  for  the 
same  end.  We  quote  from  the  "First  Annual  Report  of 
the  Baptist  Tract  Society,"  London,  1842. 

"Dear  brethren,  the  design  with  which  this  Society  has 
been  formed,  is  to  assist  in  publishing  the  Gospel,  to  aid  in 
proclaiming  the  glad  tidings,  that  'he  who  believeth  and  is 
baptized  shall  be  saved,' — and  the  solemn  warning,  that 


24  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

'he  who  believeth  not  shall  be  condemned,'  with  the  design 
to  teach  its  doctrines,  precepts,  and  ordinances,  in  that  sim- 
plicity and  purity,  without  addition  or  diminution,  severance 
or  change.  Those  who  founded  it  were  guided  as  to  its  con- 
stitution by  the  views  they  entertain  as  Calvinistic  and 
strict  (communion)  Baptists.  Convinced  that  their  senti- 
ments are  scriptural,  and  that  no  part  of  Scripture  ought 
to  be  kept  back,  they  felt  it  a  duty  to  provide  for  their 
promulgation.  They  were  far  from  wishing  to  fetter  the 
consciences  of  others,  but  felt  it  was  due  to  their  own,  thus 
to  act.  There  was  no  Society  for  the  publication  of  Tracts 
in  which  these  sentiments  could  be  fully  expressed;  and 
while  they  rejoice  in  the  good  effected  by  other  agencies, 
they  felt  that  the  systematic  publication  of  our  sentiments 
in  such  a  form  was  too  important  a  means  of  usefulness  to 
be  longer  neglected. 

"They  confidently  hope,  that,  through  the  blessing  of 
God,  this  Society  will  be  useful  both  to  our  own  body,  and 
beyond  it.  Beyond  our  body  there  are  reasons  for  the  for- 
mation of  such  a  society,  in  the  importance  of  which,  every 
Baptist  will  concur.  In  the  churches  of  Rome  and  Eng- 
land, infant  baptism  is  declared  to  regenerate  and  save, 
and  thus  millions  around  us,  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins, 
are  constantly  deluded  to  their  destruction.  From  those 
who  are  thus  deluded,  ministers  of  the  gospel  are  ordained, 
most  of  whom,  depending  on  that  sacramental  efficacy  which 
this  rite  first  taught  them,  teach  and  enforce  it  as  the  only 
certain  way  to  life,  and  blinded  themselves,  perish  with  the 
blind  they  lead.  Among  Dissenters,  it  is  combined  with 
the  doctrine  of  hereditary  holiness ;  of  participation  in  the 
blessings  of  the  new  covenant  by  parentage  instead  of  faith  ; 
with  them,  as  with  the  Church  of  England,  it  gives  to  in* 
fants  and  the  unregenerate,  a  standing  in  the  Church  of 
the  Saints  of  the  Most  High,  and  divides  with  the  world 
the  visible  kingdom  of  God's  dear  Son. 


PROGRESS,    ORIGINAL   PRINCIPLES,    ETC.  25 

"Nor  is  it  easy  to  calculate  the  amount  of  support  which 
practice  affords  to  the  whole  of  the  superstitions  of  the 
Church  of  Rome.  Certain  it  is  that  to  this  practice  that 
Church  continually  appeals  in  proof,  that  even  Protestants 
do  not  make  the  Bible,  and  the  Bible  only,  their  religion. 
Were  but  this  '  pillar  of  popery'  destroyed,  the  fabric  istelf 
would  probably  totter  to  its  fall.  We  entreat  those  of  our 
brethren  who  do  not  concur  with  us  on  the  subject  of  com- 
munion, to  unite  with  us  in  endeavoring  to  destroy  this 
wide-spread  evil.  Is  it  not  by  the  truth  as  well  as  by  the 
power  of  God  that  it  will  be  finally  accomplished  ?  With 
the  prayer  that  this  Society,  in  all  its  measures,  may  be 
blessed  to  glorify  God,  to  show  forth  the  greatness  of  his 
wisdom,  and  the  riches  of  his  grace,  it  is  now  submitted, 
dear  brethren,  to  your  approval,  co-operation,  and  sup- 
port." 

"  The  object  of  this  Society,"  adds  the  Committee  in  its 
Address,  "like  that  of  the  '  Religious  Tract  Society,'  is  to 
disseminate  the  '  pure  truth'  of  God's  holy  word,  but  more 
especially  those  parts  of  it  on  which  the  constitution  of  the 
latter  society  precludes  it  from  entering.  The  rules  of  the 
'  Religious  Tract  Society'  restrict  its  operations  to  subjects 
on  which  Protestants  agree  ;  leaving  it  to  each  denomina- 
tion to  promote  by  its  own  separate  instrumentality,  what- 
ever on  these  points  it  believes  to  be  the  truth  as  it  is  in 
Jesus.  To  supply  this  supplemental  agency,  as  it  respects 
our  own  denomination,  is  the  object  of  the  'Baptist  Tract 
Society. '  Every  word  of  God  is  pure,  and  were  the  sen- 
timents which  distinguish  us  much  less  important  than  we 
believe  them  to  be,  love  and  duty  to  our  Redeemer  would 
still  oblige  us  to  endeavor  their  universal  diffusion." 

It  is  gratifying  thus  to  find  the  convictions  which  were 
uttered  by  the  founders  of  the  'Baptist  General  Tract  So- 
ciety' in  1824,  so  fully  responded  to,  both  in  word  and 
deed,  almost  twenty  years  later,  across  the  broad  Atlantic. 
3 


26  AMERICAN    BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

England  indeed,  gave  us  the  glorious  example  of  religious 
Tract  Societies,  built  on  the  basis  of  our  common  faith, 
and  binding  different  denominations  of  Christians  in  the 
bond  of  brotherly  concord ;  but  denominational  Tract  So- 
cieties, seeking  to  carry  out  the  Great  Commission  of 
Christ  as  we  understand  it  in  "  all  things  whatsoever," 
are  the  native  products  of  the  free  American  mind,  con- 
science, and  heart.  They  can  become  sectarian,  only  when 
they  "make  void  the  commandments  of  God,"  by  a  blind 
zeal,  in  imposing  upon  unenlightened  consciences  the  tradi- 
tions of  men.  If  some  denominational  concerns  of  this 
sort  are  justly  liable  to  such  a  charge  in  the  sight  of  the 
Great  Judge,  let  us  see  to  it  carefully  that  we  secure  the 
full  benefit  of  such  an  institution,  free  from  corruption  and 
abuse.  "Eternal  vigilance  is  the  price  of  liberty." 


4.  First  Annual  Meeting,     1825. 

The  Baptist  General  Tract  Society  held  its  first  annual 
meeting  in  the  city  of  Washington,  Feb.  28,  1825.  The 
first  Annual  Report  of  the  Board  of  Directors  was  pre- 
pared and  read  on  that  occasion,  by  James  D.  Knowles, 
then  Editor  of  the  Columbian  Star.  It  was  approved  and 
accepted  for  publication.  On  motion  of  Rev.  Luther  Rice, 
seconded  by  Rev.  Dr.  Staughton,  it  was  resolved  that  the 
thanks  of  the  Society  be  presented  to  the  Auxiliary  So- 
cieties, and  to  State  Conventions,  Associations,  and 
Churches,  as  well  as  to  all  individuals,  who  have  recom- 
mended and  otherwise  assisted  its  objects.  Brief  addresses 
were  made  by  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Lynd,  Rice,  and  Staughton, 
by  Mr.  Baron  Stow,  and  by  Dr.  James  M.  Staughton. 
Rev.  0.  B.  Brown  was  again  chosen  President,  Rev. 
Samuel  Cornelius,  Vice  President,  George  Wood,  Agent, 
and  Rev.  Luther  Rice  Treasurer  for  the  ensuing  year.  It 


FIRST   ANNUAL   MEETIXG.  27 

appears  from  the  Report,  that  the  Society  during  the  first 
year  of  its  existence,  printed  85,500  copies  of  19  Tracts; 
established  10  central  Depositories,  and  38  Auxiliary  So- 
cieties. Receipts,  $373.80;  Expenditures,  $582.44.  The 
sums  due  from  the  Depositories,  together  with  stock  on  hand, 
amounted  to  $308.64,  leaving  a  balance  in  favor  of  the  So- 
ciety of  $100.  Twenty-five  gentlemen  had  engaged  to  act 
as  volunteer  Agents.  The  Tracts  were  every  where  well 
received,  and  numerous  letters  addressed  to  the  Officers  of 
the  Society,  testified  in  earnest  and  emphatic  language, 
the  wants  of  the  community,  and  the  fitness  of  Tracts  to 
supply  them.  Few  combinations  of  men  for  benevolent 
exertion,  it  was  thought,  had  a  stronger  hold  on  the  public 
favor. 

"Not  the  least  advantage  of  Tracts,"  says  the  Annual 
Report,  "is  that  they  enable  every  man  to  become  a 
preacher  of  righteousness.  The  traveler,  by  distributing 
them  along  his  road,  may  gladden  many  a  solitary  place. 
Timely  advice,  and  effectual  reproof,  are  often  administered 
by  silently  presenting  a  Tract,  where  open  expostulation 
would  be  received  with  resentment  or  derision. 

"But  the  Directors  wish  to  keep  distinctly  in  view  that 
this  is  a  Baptist  Tract  Society,  established  with  a  special 
reference  to  the  condition  of  the  Baptist  denomination. 
They  entertain  a  fraternal  regard  for  other  Tract  Societies, 
and  a  respectful  sense  of  their  useful  services.  They  con- 
sider this  Society  not  in  any  respect  as  a  rival,  but  as  a 
zealous  coadjutor,  occupying  a  station  which  no  other  So- 
ciety can  so  properly  and  so  successfully  fill. 

"There  is  another  consideration,  which  will  not  be 
deemed  unimportant  by  any  Baptist  who  partakes  of  the 
spirit  of  the  age.  It  is  desirable  to  produce  among  the 
members  of  the  denomination,  a  closer  union  than  has  yet 
subsisted.  While  they  have  been  united  in  faith  and  fel- 
lowship by  the  bond  of  peace,  supplied  by  their  attachment 


28  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

to  'one  Lord,  one  faith,  and  one  baptism,'  the  vast  extent 
of  the  country,  and  the  independent  form  of  our  church 
government,  have  operated  to  estrange  them  as  individuals. 
Differences  of  opinion  too,  in  reference  to  various  points  of 
Christian  obligation  and  policy,  have  aided  to  present 
serious  obstacles  to  all  measures  of  common  concern.  The 
leading  designs  which  a  portion  of  the  denomination  are 
laboring  to  effect,  (Sabbath  School,  Bible,  and  Missionary 
efforts,)  are  regarded  by  other  portions  with  indifference 
or  disapprobation.  It  becomes,  therefore,  a  matter  of 
great  moment  to  devise  some  project  which  may,  as  far  as 
possible,  kindle  the  zeal,  animate  the  prayers,  and  prompt 
the  united  efforts  of  the  denomination.  The  Directors  are 
convinced  that  the  General  Tract  Society  presents  an  ob- 
ject which  is  fitted  more  than  any  other  at  the  present 
time,  to  produce  this  desirable  unanimity  of  counsels  and 
exertions.  No  opposition  has  yet  been  manifested,  and 
none  is  apprehended." 


5.  Second  Annual  Meeting,  1826. 

At  the  Second  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Society  in  Wash- 
ington, January  4th,  1826,  it  was  resolved,  "That  the 
Society  entertain  a  high  sense  of  the  indefatigable  zeal  with 
which  the  Board  of  Directors  have  conducted  the  operations 
of  the  body  during  the  past  year."  After  addresses  from 
Messrs  Lynd,  Cornelius,  and  Stow,  the  same  Directors  and 
Officers  as  before  were  re-elected,  with  a  single  exception — 
Mr.  Enoch  Reynolds  taking  the  place  of  Mr.  Rice  as 
Treasurer. 

The  Annual  Report  says,  "While  we  have  been  careful 
to  preserve  the  credit  of  the  Society,  and  have  limited  the 
circulation  of  Tracts  to  the  extent  of  our  present  means, 
we  have  been  iutent  upon  multiplying  the  number  of  our 


SECOND   ANNUAL    MEETING.  29 

Auxiliaries — soliciting  life-memberships — engaging  every- 
where the  co-operation  of  the  benevolent,  and  thus  em- 
bodying as  far  as  practicable  the  efforts  of  our  denomina- 
tion." The  receipts  for  the  year  were  $636.53,  besides 
$509.43,  in  dues  and  stock — total,  $1,145.96,  nearly  double 
those  of  the  first  year.  Tracts  printed,  480,000  pages; 
distributed,  587,764  pages;  on  hand,  51,564  pages.  After 
paying  all  expenses,  the  balance  in  favor  of  the  Society  was 
$310.10;  adding  the  value  of  the  stereotype  plates,  it 
amounted  to  $401.82,  The  Auxiliaries  amounted  to  30; 
Life-memberships,  5  ;  Central  Depositories,  10. 

In  summing  up  these  results,  the  Directors  say,  "  We  have 
thus  been  enabled  to  accomplish — little,  indeed,  compared 
with  our  wishes — little  compared  with  the  wants  of  our 
growing  denomination — but  enough  to  convince  us  of  the 
perfect  feasibility  of  our  enterprise — enough  to  encourage 
and  sustain  us  in  making  still  greater  efforts  for  its  com- 
pletion. 

"  The  responsibility  of  selecting  and  approving  Tracts 
is  great.  In  performing  this  part  of  their  duty,  the  Direc- 
tors have  endeavored,  as  far  as  possible,  to  obtain  such  as 
contain  the  leading  truths  of  the  Gospel ;  such,  for  instance, 
as  the  depraved  and  lost  condition  of  men  by  nature — the 
absolute  necessity  of  repentance  towards  God,  and  faith 
in  the  Lord  Jesus,  as  the  all-sufficient  and  only  Saviour. 
They  have  also  felt  it  due  to  themselves,  to  their  brethren, 
and  to  truth,  to  publish  some  Tracts,  containing  simple  and 
candid  expositions  of  their  peculiar  views,  together  with  the 
reasons  on  which  they  are  founded.  We  would  not  publish 
a  syllable  which  could  offend  any ;  unless  indeed,  it  should 
offend  others  that  we  do  not  think  and  feel  as  they  do." 

On  the  usefulness  of  Tracts,  they  present  the  following 
views,  which  cannot  be  too  deeply  pondered  now. 

"  Cast  your  eye  over  the  wide  fields  of  the  South  and 
the  West.  They  are  already  white  for  the  harvest,  but 
3* 


30  AMERICAN  BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

where  are  the  laborers  ?  Alas,  many  of  our  churches  are 
destitute  of  pastors,  enjoying  only  occasional  opportunities 
of  hearing  the  word  of  life  dispensed  ;  and  many  extensive 
portions  of  our  Southern,  and  especially  of  our  "Western 
States,  are  seldom  visited  by  preachers  of  the  Gospel.  We 
cannot  send  them  preachers,  nor  are  they  able  to  support 
them  if  sent.  But  can  we  not  send  them  these  silent, 
though  efficient  messengers  of  truth,  which  cost  but  little, 
and  consume  nothing  ?  Can  we  not,  at  least,  make  a  more 
vigorous  and  united  effort,  than  we  have  yet  done,  to  effect 
this  desirable  object  ?  We  have  thus  far  been  able  to  sup- 
ply but  few  of  the  many  and  pressing  demands  for  Tracts. 
Our  brethren,  who  are  engaged  in  preaching  the  unsearcha- 
ble riches  of  Christ  in  the  more  settled  sections  of  our 
country,  would  avail  themselves  of  the  aid  of  Tracts. 
They  would  frequently  gain  much  by  sending  a  Tract 
before  them  to  announce  their  coming — by  leaving  one 
behind  as  a  witness  for  them.  Standing,  as  they  often  do, 
:md  overlooking  a  region  of  country  beautiful  in  its  aspect, 
fertile  in  its  soil,  salubrious  in  its  climate,  and  becoming 
rapidly  peopled ;  but  in  all  its  beauty  and  fertility,  and 
salubriousness,  destitute  of  the  means  of  religious  instruc- 
tion, they  solicit  our  aid.  They  cannot  raise  their  voices 
so  as  to  be  heard  from  hill  to  hill,  and  awaken  the  attention 
of  the  husbandmen  in  the  recesses  of  the  valley ;  but  they 
might  despatch  these  faithful  heralds,  and  cover  the  hills 
and  the  valleys  with  truth  and  blessing. 

"  It  must  be  obvious  to  all,  that  comparatively  little  can 
be  accomplished  unless  the  funds  of  the  Society  can  be 
augmented.  Must  then  the  want  of  funds  remain  an  in- 
superable obstacle  to  the  circulation  of  Baptist  Tracts  in 
the  United  States?  We  trust  not.  The  zealous  co-opera- 
tion of  so  many  of  our  most  influential  lnvthrm  already 
m  I  Mod — the  cheering  proM-wo  of  seventy-one  Auxiliavir< 
• — and,  above  all,  the  promises  of  Him  who  turns  the  hearts 


THIRD   ANNUAL   MEETING.  31 

of  the  children  of  men  as  the  rivers  of  water  are  turned, 
forbid  the  thought. 

"  Finally,  brethren,  let  all  who  are  enlisted  to  promote 
the  objects  of  our  Society,  remember  that  they  are  engaged 
in  a  sacred  work  ; — a  work  calculated  alike  to  cherish  and 
invigorate  the  personal  piety  of  those  employed  in  it,  and 
to  extend  the  Christian's  Faith  and  the  Christian's  Hope 
to  thousands,  who  might,  otherwise,  never  experience  their 
consolation  and  power. 


6.  Third  Annual  Meeting,  1827. 

For  the  reasons  already  stated  in  the  communication  of 
Mr.  Wood,  the  seat  of  the  Society's  operations  was  trans- 
ferred from  Washington  to  Philadelphia,  in  the  year  1826. 
The  Depository  was  first  opened  under  the  care  of  Mr. 
David  Clark,  at  No.  118  North  Fourth  Street. 

The  Third  Annual  meeting  of  the  Society  was  held  in 
Philadelphia,  at  the  Sansom  Street  Church,  January  3, 
182t.  After  the  reading  of  the  Annual  Report,  addresses 
were  made  by  Rev.  Messrs.  Brantly,  Malcom,  and  Cush- 
man.  The  services  awakened  a  lively  interest  among  the 
Baptists  of  "the  City  of  Brotherly  Love."  The  Society 
received  a  cordial  welcome  to  its  new  home,  and  the 
brethren  taking  charge  of  its  concerns  manifested  con- 
siderable spirit.  The  new  Board  of  Directors  chosen  con- 
sisted of  the  Rev.  John  L.  Dagg,  President;  Rev.  Wm. 
T.  Brantly,  Vice  President;  Noah  Davis,  Agent;  Philologus 
Loud,  Secretary;  Samuel  Huggens,  Treasurer;  Rev. 
Elisha  Cushman,  T.  J.  Kitts,  William  E.  Ashton,  Joseph 
Maylin,  John  Hewson,  Howard  Malcom,  David  Jones, 
Joseph  H.  Kennard,  with  Messrs.  John  Davis,  William 
Dorman,  William  S.  Hanscll,  S.  W.  Sexton,  George 
McCloud,  George  Hacker,  Krusmud  Thomas,  Directors. 


32  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

The  Annual  Report  says  the  whole  number  of  Tracts 
printed  since  the  organization  of  the  Society  amounts  to 
221,100,  making  2,064,000  pages.  About  160,000  copies 
were  printed  in  1826  more  than  in  1825.  Members  for 
Life,  46  ;  Auxiliary  Societies,  88.  The  treasury  was  desti- 
tute, and  an  appeal  was  made  for  funds  to  carry  on  and 
extend  the  benevolent  operations  of  the  Society.  Rev. 
Messrs.  Brantly,  Dagg,  Cushman,  Kitts,  and  Ashton,  were 
appointed  a  Committee  of  Publication  to  select  and  recom- 
mend Tracts  to  the  Board. 

The  American  Tract  Society,  early  in  this  year,  made  a 
proposition  to  this  Society  that  it  should  become  an  Aux- 
iliary to  that  body.  The  Board  of  Directors  considered  the 
proposition ;  but  decided  that  they  "  had  no  power  under 
the  present  Constitution  to  become  Auxiliary."  At  the 
formation  of  the  Philadelphia  City  Tract  Society,  however, 
about  the  same  time,  Rev.  Messrs.  Dagg,  Brantly,  and 
Ashton,  were  chosen  among  the  Managers  of  the  new 
Society,  and  cheerfully  accepted  the  service,  while  holding 
the  highest  positions  of  responsibility  in  their  own.  Nor 
was  there  any  inconsistency  in  this ;  as  the  American  So- 
ciety's Tracts  were  free  from  any  thing  that  could  offend 
the  most  conscientious  Baptist,  and  were  therefore  deemed 
worthy  of  universal  circulation. 


7.  Baptist  Tract  Magazine,  1827, 

In  the  month  of  July  of  this  year  (182T),  the  Society 
began  the  issue  at  their  first  Depository,  No.  118  North 
Fourth  St.,  of  the  BAPTIST  TRACT  MAGAZINE,  a  monthly 
periodical,  at  50  cents  a  year.  Each  number  contained  24 
pages,  duodecimo.  It  was  under  the  editorial  care  of  the 
General  Agent,  NOAH  DAVIS  ;  and  formed  aii  important 


CATALOGUE   OF   TRACTS.  33 

means  of  communication  with  the  public.  It  embraced 
also  useful  selections,  anecdotes,  and  annual  denominational 
statistics. 


8.  Catalogue  of  Tracts  in  1826.  Issued  at  Washington. 

Thirty-one  Tracts  only  had  been  published  while  the  seat 
of  the  Society  was  in  Washington ;  although  ten  more  had 
been  ordered  and  stereotyped,  which  were  first  issued  in 
Philadelphia.  The  following  is  the 

CATALOGUE  OF  TRACTS  IN  1826. 

Pages. 

1.  Memorable  Thoughts  and  Holy  Resolutions,    ....  12 

2.  Dwight  on  Drunkenness, 16 

3.  The  Great  Error  Detected,  or  Self-righteousness  Disclaimed,  12 

4.  Life  of  Mrs.  Hamilton, 12 

5.  The  Christian's  Directory, 8 

6.  The  Great  Question  Answered,    ......  16 

7.  The  Scriptures, 8 

8.  The  One  Thing  Needful, 4 

9.  Man  as  he  is  and  must  be,        .*.....  16 

10.  The  Grace  of  God  and  a  Holy  Life, 8 

11.  The  Brazen  Serpent, •  4 

12.  The  Shepherd  and  his  Flock,       ......  20 

13.  The  Twins, 4 

14.  Church  Discipline, 12 

15.  Christian  Fidelity  to  Friends, 8 

16.  Prayer  for  Divine  Influence, 8 

17.  Inconsistencies  of  Conduct, 4 

18.  Menno's  Departure  from  Popery, 12 

19.  The  Earl  of  Rochester,             4 

20.  Practical  Uses  of  Baptism, 12 

21.  The  Surest  Way  of  Thriving, 8 

22.  Krishna  Pal,  the  First  Hindoo  Convert,       ....  16 

23.  The  Contented  Villager,            . . g 

24.  Efficacy  of  the  Scriptures, 4 

25.  An  Infidel  Convinced  by  a  Child, 8 

26.  Terms  of  Communion,          ••••...  12 


34  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

27.  The  Dairyman's  Daughter, 24 

28.  Village  in  the  Mountains,     .......  20 

29.  The  Swearer's  Prayer, 4 

30.  Death  of  an  Infidel, 8 

31.  Letter  from  a  Nobleman, 4 

32.  History  of  John  Wildon, 12 

33.  Little  Martha, 8 

34.  Fragments  of  Philip  Henry,         ......  4 

35.  Susan  the  Laundry  Maid, 12 

36.  The  Progress  of  Sin, 8 

37.  Poor  Joseph, 4 

38.  Conversion  of  a  Universalist,        ......  8 

39.  James  Covey,  the  Sailor,            ».'..,«         •         •         •         •         •  4 

40.  The  Bible  the  Test  of  Truth, 12 

41.  Divine  Songs  for  Children, 24 


9.  Fourth  Annual  Meeting,  1828. 

The  Society  held  its  Fourth  Annual  Meeting  with  the 
New  Market  Street  Church,  January  2d,  1828.  Dr.  Brantly 
read  the  Annual  Report  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  which 
was  followed  by  Addresses  from  Messrs.  J.  L.  Dagg,  D. 
Jones,  W.  T.  Brantly,  E.  Cushman,  and  Noah  Davis. 

The  Report  is  full  of  encouragement.  "  We  rejoice,"  say 
the  Directors,  "  that  our  hearts  were  inclined  to  undertake 
this  good  work,  and  that  the  successful  issue  of  the  under- 
taking as  thus  far  conducted,  has  even  surpassed  our  largest 
anticipations.  We  have  reason  to  be  thankful  that  the  Lord 
has  rendered  our  distant  friends  and  brethren  so  well  affected 
towards  our  imperfect  endeavors,  and  that  we  have  been  so 
liberally  seconded  by  their  contributions  ;  and  may  we  not 
also  believe  by  their  prayers  ?  To  ourselves  we  can  propose 
no  higher  remuneration  for  the  sacrifices  incident  to  this 
work,  than  the  good  feelings,  the  moral  edification,  the 
augmented  graces,  the  reclaimed  spirits,  and  the  growing 
prosperity  of  the  church,  which  must  all  stand  forth  as  the 
fruits  of  efforts  directed,  we  trust,  to  the  glory  of  God." 


FOURTH  ANNUAL   MEETING.  35 

"We  are  not  ashamed  to  say  for  ourselves  and  our 
brethren,  that  whilst  we  feel  unaffected  respect  and  good- 
will towards  those  institutions  which  are  designed  to  em- 
body and  harmonize  the  powers  of  several  denominations, 
we  are  bound  by  the  feeling  of  honorable  consistency  to 
cherish  a  warmer  approbation  of  those  plans,  which  stand 
responsible  for  the  protection  of  our  peculiarities  as  a 
denomination.  In  this  view  we  are  certainly  willing  to 
concede  to  others  what  we  claim  for  ourselves.  We  shall 
never  think  the  less  of  any  class  of  Christians,  for  watching 
with  becoming  circumspection  the  grounds  upon  which 
they  stand  as  a  separate  section  of  the  great  whole.  Let 
such  a  course  be  pursued  with  the  meekness  of  wisdom, 
and  with  the  charity  which  the  Gospel  enjoins,  and  we  shall 
see  all  denominations  of  Christians,  not  only  loving  one 
another  with  the  affection  of  a  common  brotherhood,  but  a 
greater  amount  of  good  will  be  brought  into  the  common 
treasury  of  the  Lord." 

To  show  how  practically  the  Churches  appreciated  the 
motives  and  doings  of  the  Board,  and  the  establishment 
of  the  Society  in  its  new  location,  it  is  only  necessary  to 
state  that  the  sum  received  into  the  treasury  during  the 
year  was  $3168.04 ; — four  times  the  amount  received  during 
the  preceding  year,  and  nearly  twice  the  whole  amount 
received  during  the  first  three  years  of  the  Society's  exist- 
ence. This  fact  was  regarded  justly  as  "  a  most  animating 
demonstration." 

The  Society  had  issued,  "  through  the  various  channels 
of  Depositories,  Auxiliaries,  life  and  annual  subscribers,  Sab- 
bath-schools, sales,  and  gratuitous  distributions,"  2,619,036 
pages  of  Tracts.  It  had  doubled  the  number  of  its  stereo- 
type plates — making  in  all  432  pages ;  and  proposed 
adding  in  time  to  come,  at  least  300  pages  annually.  The 
Tracts  from  No.  1  to  29,  were  bound  into  volumes  of  about 
300  pages,  which  sold  for  fifty  cents  each.  The  number 


36  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

of  Depositories  was  25,  in  fourteen  different  States,  and  in 
the  most  favorable  locations.  Fifty-eight  new  life  members 
had  been  added,  making  in  all  104 ;  ten  of  whom  had  been 
made  life-directors.  Remittances  had  been  received  from 
130  Auxiliaries.  "What  a  desirable  arrangement  would 
it  be,"  says  the  Report,  "for  every  church  to  become  an 
auxiliary,  and  thus  supply  all  their  members  with  those 
salutary  and  edifying  discourses  which  go  abroad  in  the 
form  of  Tracts ! — Among  no  people  are  to  be  found  stronger 
considerations  for  united  and  charitable  effort,  and  among 
no  people  can  the  diffusion  of  religious  knowledge  be 
attended  with  happier  effects.  We  may  be  allowed  to  say 
that  our  selections  have  all  been  made  with  care,  delibera- 
tion and  prayer,  and  that  in  general  we  regard  their  con- 
tents as  admirably  adapted  to  all  the  purposes  for  which 
they  are  sent  forth.  It  should  be  a  concern  with  us  to  send 
these  little  rills  of  knowledge  by  kind  and  gentle  insinua- 
tions, into  every  channel  of  destitution  and  ignorance." 

The  Report  closes  with  an  animated  appeal.  "  PASTORS 
of  Churches !  call  in  to  your  assistance  these  silent  moni- 
tors, which  may  assault  the  repose,  and  sting  the  conscience 
of  your  people,  when  you  are  no  longer  in  their  presence. 
Drop  them  into  the  abodes  of  affliction,  and  thus  read  a  con- 
solatory lesson  to  the  wretched  and  desponding.  FATHERS 
AND  MOTHERS,  welcome  into  your  houses  and  to  your  fire- 
sides these  wholesome  visitants.  Imprint  them  on  the 
memory  of  your  children,  and  mingle  their  virtues  with  the 
dew  of  their  youth.  Teachers  and  magistrates,  young  and 
old,  wealthy  and  indigent,  all  come  to  this  blessed  work, 
and  lend  your  counsels  and  your  prayers  for  the  triumph  of 
this  cause.  Disciples  of  the  Redeemer,  you  are  commanded 
to  do  good  as  you  have  opportunity  to  all  men,  and  to  let 
your  light  shine.  Engage  then  all  of  you,  with  earnest 
diligence  in  the  dispersion  of  Tracts ;  send  them  far  and 
near,  to  careless  sinners  and  sleeping  saints ;  follow  them 


STATISTICS.  37 

with  your  supplications  to  the  Spirit  of  Grace,  and  the 
great  day  will  reveal  that  your  labor  is  not  in  vain  in  the 
Lord." 

Some  changes  were  made  in  the  Board  of  Directors  at 
this  Annual  Meeting.  Rev.  Elisha  Cushman  was  chosen 
President  in  place  of  Rev.  J.  L.  Dagg,  Rev.  William  Bal- 
lentine  as  a  Director  in  place  of  Mr.  Dorman,  and  Rev. 
Robert  W.  Cushmau  filled  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the 
removal  of  Rev.  Howard  Malcom  to  Boston.  Messrs. 
Reuben  Jurman  and  Wm.  H.  Richards  took  the  place  of 
Messrs.  Sexton  and  McCloud.  The  others  remained  as 
before. 

The  former  Board  having  recommended  to  the  Society  an 
additional  article  to  the  Constitution,  to  be  the  sixth, 
fixing  the  price  of  Tracts,  the  new  article  was  adopted,  as 
follows :  "  Art.  6.  Life  and  Annual  Subscribers  shall  be 
entitled  to  one  half  the  amount  of  their  payments  in  Tracts, 
at  twelve  pages  for  one  cent.  Auxiliary  Societies  shall  be 
supplied  at  the  same  rate.  Sabbath-Schools  and  members 
of  the  General  Society,  shall  be  allowed  to  purchase  Tracts, 
for  gratuitous  circulation,  at  that  price.  Other  cash  sales 
shall  be  made  at  ten  pages  for  a  cent."  A  clause  was  also 
inserted  in  the  fifth  article  of  the  Constitution,  giving  the 
Board  power  to  "  grant  special  privileges  to  other  Societies, 
if  they  deem  it  expedient."  These  changes  were  agreed  to 
unanimously. 


10.  Statistics. 

In  the  Baptist  Tract  Magazine  for  January,  1828,  we 
find  a  Table  of  the  regular  Baptist  Associations  in  the 
United  States  and  British  Provinces  of  North  America, 
filling  seven  pages,  and  embracing  their  dates,  times  of 
meeting,  correspondents,  number  of  churches,  ministers, 
4 


'68  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 

and  members,  with  the  number  added  in  1827,  as  far  as  could 
be  ascertained.  The  total  given  is  195  Associations — 
3,852  Churches — 2,487  Ministers — It, 405  Baptized— and 
249,460  Members.  This  Table,  however,  includes  not  only 
the  Baptists  of  the  British  Provinces  and  the  Anti- Mission 
Baptists ;  but  also  the  Seventh  Day  Baptists — which  are 
not  now  usually  included,  and  which  then  embraced  82 
Churches — TO  Ministers — 518  Baptized — and  6,462  Mem- 
bers. If  these  last  be  deducted,  the  number  of  Regular 
Baptists  in  the  United  States  in  1827,  Anti-Mission  Bap- 
tists included,  will  be  3,770  Churches — 2,417  Ministers — 
16,883  Baptized — and  242,998  Members  :  or  as  one  mem- 
ber of  our  Churches  to  forty-six  of  the  population  of  the 
United  States,  reckoned  at  eleven  millions.  In  1851,  the 
proportion  was  as  one  to  thirty,  showing  a  gain  in  the  ratio 
of  our  membership  upon  the  population  in  twenty-four 
years,  of  full  one-third — the  population  being  23,263,498, 
and  the  membership  772,216.  These  last  figures  are  taken 
from  the  American  Baptist  Register  of  1852,  issued  by  the 
American  Baptist  Publication  Society. 

And  here  it  seems  proper  to  remark,  that  up  to  the 
year  1828,  there  had  been  no  regular  provision  for  ascer- 
taining the  number  and  progress  of  our  churches,  from 
year  to  year,  nor  for  maintaining  a  general  correspondence 
among  them.  The  tables  of  John  Asplund,  in  1792,  and 
of  Mr.  Benedict,  in  his  first  History  of  the  Baptists,  pub- 
lished in  1813,  had  been  collected  with  incredible  toil,  at 
the  distance  of  twenty,  years  from  each  other;  and  no 
attempt  of  the  kind  was  again  made  until  1824,  when  the 
Board  of  Missions  of  the  Baptist  Triennial  Convention,  for 
its  own  use,  procured,  as  far  as  possible,  returns  of  the 
Associations  for  that  year,  and  published  them  early  in 
1825.  In  the  first  Annual  Report  of  the  B.  G.  Tract 
Society,  the  total  returns  of  1824  are  put  down  at  225,000 
members  in  3,594  churches,  with  2,219  Ministers.  Deduct- 


STATISTICS.  39 

ing  Anti-Mission  Baptists,  the  membership  certainly  could 
not  exceed  200,000,  or  one-fiftieth  of  the  population  of  the 
United  States.  This  document  was  of  course  very  im- 
perfect. So  indeed,  confessedly  was  the  Table  for  1827, 
in  the  Baptist  Tract  Magazine ;  but  it  had  the  merit  of 
beginning  a  regular  system,  which  has  been  continued  to 
this  day.  It  was  at  the  time  accompanied  with  the  follow- 
ing1 generous  proposition:  "  The  Board  of  Directors  of  the 
General  Tract  Society  think  it  desirable,  if  possible,  to 
have  an  Annual  Account  of  our  denomination,  and  are 
willing  to  be  at  the  trouble  and  expense  of  preparing  and 
publishing  it,  if  our  brethren  will  furnish  the  materials. 
We  wish  to  hold  a  correspondence  by  an  exchange  of  our 
Reports  for  their  Minutes,  with  all  the  Associations  in  the 
country,  and  do  again  request  them  to  favor  us  with  a  copy 
of  their  Minutes  annually.  They  are  desired  to  appoint 
a  Correspondent,  whose  name  and  post-office  should  be 
printed  or  written  on  them.  Where  Associations  neglect 
our  request,  it  is  hoped  some  one  who  feels  interested  in 
the  object  will  send  Minutes  voluntarily. 

"  If  the  Clerks  of  the  Associations,  or  those  who  prepare 
Minutes  for  the  press,  would  in  alt  cases  make  up  the  totals 
of  Churches,  &c.,  it  would  aid  us  very  much  in  compiling 
the  table.  Frequently  there  are  other  Ministers  belonging 
to  the  Churches  besides  those  in  the  delegation.  A  note 
might  be  added  stating  the  whole  number  of  ministers  in 
the  body.  It  would  be  easy,  also,  by  comparing  with  the 
previous  year's  account,  to  show  on  the  Minutes  the  net 
increase  or  decrease.  By  these  means  the  tables  could  be 

made  more  perfect.     If  the  Minutes  are  headed  '  The 

Annual  Meeting,  or  Anniversary  of  the Association' 

• — it  is  an  easy  method  of  recording  the  age  of  the  body." 

The  above  suggestions  are  equally  important  now  as 
then. 


40  AMERICAN    BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 


11.  Fifth  Annual  Meeting,  1829. 

The  Fifth  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Society  was  held 
with  the  First  Baptist  Church,  in  Philadelphia,  Jan.  7. 
1829.  The  Annual  Report  of  the  Board  was  read  by 
Rev.  Noah  Davis,  the  General  Agent.  It  opens  in  a 
strain  of  devout  acknowledgment  to  God  for  special  pros- 
perity. 

"  The  experiment  seems  now  to  have  been  fully  made, 
and  strong  proof  obtained,  that  this  Society  can  exist  and 
operate  with  great  effect  for  the  benefit  of  our  churches, 
and  the  promotion  of  the  general  cause  of  religion.  The 
measure  of  support  which  has  been  afforded  in  the  last 
twelve  months,  gives  strong  reason  to  hope  that  our  brethren 
will  not  cease,  but  with  their  lives,  to  co-operate  in  advanc- 
ing the  objects  of  this  institution."  The  amount  received 
into  the  treasury,  was  $541T.19J,  exceeding  the  entire 
receipts  of  the  four  preceding  years  united,  by  $285. 7 T. 
"A  large  portion  of  the  funds  have  been  derived  as  hereto- 
fore, from  the  praiseworthy  efforts  and  liberality  of  females, 
in  constituting  ministers  Members  or  Directors  for  life. 
This  method  of  supplying  the  Society  with  the  necessary 
means  to  enlarge  its  efforts,  is  so  easy,  and  has  so  many 
interesting  features  connected  with  it,  that  we  ardently 
desire  the  plan  may  be  pursued  until  the  names  of  all  the 
Baptist  ministers  in  this  country  shall  be  enrolled  as  Life 
Members  or  Directors  of  this  body." 

A  proposition  of  N.  R.  Cobb,  of  Boston,  in  May,  1828, 
to  give  $500,  on  condition  that  a  like  sum  should  be  raised 
by  individuals  in  Philadelphia,  by  the  first  of  January, 
1829,  was  promptly  met,  and  thus  brought  in  $1000.  A 
friend  in  Providence,  (Nicholas  l>ro\vn,  Ks<|.,)  ,a;:ivu  SL'OO 
to  stereotype  in  tract  form  the  Memoirs  of  Rev.  SAMUEL 
PEARCE,  by  Andrew  Fuller,  and  the  essay  of  Rev.  ROBERT 


FIFTH   ANNUAL   MEETING.  41 

HALL,  on  THE  WORK  OF  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT.  It  were  to 
be  wished  that  such  examples  were  more  appreciated  and 
followed.  "But,"  says  the  Report,  "to  accomplish  all 
that  it  is  evidently  our  duty  to  do  towards  supplying  our 
churches,  and  country,  and  the  world,  with  Tracts,  a  much 
greater  amount  must  be  transmitted  to  our  treasury  from 
all  the  sources  of  income.  This  can  be  done  without  im- 
poverishing any  one.  As  a  fulfillment  of  the  obligation 
in  part,  let  one  thousand  persons  during  this  year  find  it  in 
their  hearts  to  give  us  ten  dollars  each,  and  the  number 
of  our  publications  will  be  trebled  in  the  ensuing  twelve 
months.  The  whole  number  of  Tracts  printed  by  this  So- 
ciety from  the  beginning,  has  not  equaled  the  whole  num- 
ber of  the  members  and  adherents  of  our  denomination  in 
these  United  States!" 

It  appears  from  the  Report  that  19  new  Tracts  had  been 
added  to  the  series,  making  the  whole  -number  62.  The 
number  of  stereotype  plates  was  enlarged  to  808,  exclusive 
of  plates  with  cuts  and  hymns  for  printing  covers.  About 
500  copies  of  Volumes  I.  and  II.  had  been  bound  and  put 
into  circulation.  The  number  of  Tracts  printed  during  the 
year  1828,  was  428,500,  containing  5,442,000  pages,  ex- 
clusive of  162,000  covers,  containing  648,000  pages,  being 
422,000  pages  more  than  all  published  in  the  four  preced- 
ing years  of  the  Society.  The  whole  number  printed  from 
its  formation,  was  947,250  Tracts,  containing  10,452,000 
pages. 

Remittances  were  received  from  136  Auxiliaries.  Three 
BRANCH  SOCIETIES  were  formed,  having  Utica  and  Roches- 
ter, N.  Y.,  and  Charleston,  S.  C.,  as  the  centre  points  of 
their  operations.  "It  is  mainly  to  its  Auxiliaries,  that 
the  Society  must  look  for  the  means  annually  to  replenish 
its  Depository  with  new  Tracts.  Donations  and  Life-sub- 
scriptions are  highly  useful  to  us  in  creating  a  present 
supply ;  but  they  are  not  repeated  year  by  year,  as  are  the 
4* 


42  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

remittances  of  the  Societies  ;  neither  do  they  call  for  re- 
newed issues  of  Tracts,  and  disperse  them  into  numerous 
neighborhoods  and  families,  and  among  all  classes  of  the 
community,  as  do  the  Auxiliary  Societies." 

Four  new  Depositories  had  been  established  by  the 
Board  ;  but  already  the  evils  incidental  to  this  system  had 
become  apparent  in  absorbing  the  funds  of  the  Society ; 
and  the  means  of  relief  became  matters  of  discussion. 
The  Board  decided  henceforth  to  permit  no  sales  from  the 
Depositories  on  credit. 

The  TRACT  MAGAZINE  had  already  been  found  an  im- 
portant instrument  in  promoting  the  objects  of  the  Society, 
by  awakening  and  sustaining  an  interest  in  its  favor. 
Twelve  hundred  copies  were  printed  monthly,  in  1828, 
containing  together  378,000  pages.  All  its  profits  were 
devoted  to  the  publication  of  the  Scriptures  and  Tracts  in 
Burmah,  &c. 

A  beginning  was  made  towards  collecting  funds  for  the 
publication  of  Tracts  in  Burmah,  in  the  Burmese  language, 
under  the  direction  of  the  Missionaries.  "  Tracts  can  go 
where  Bibles  and  Missionaries  cannot,"  says  the  Report 
justly,  "  and  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  Head  of 
the  Church  designs  that  much  shall  be  done  by  the  instru- 
mentality of  Tracts  in  converting  the  world.  They  can  be 
circulated  to  great  advantage  from  our  Missionary  stations 
among  the  Indians  and  in  Africa.  Let  us  open  our  eyes 
and  see  the  work  to  which  we  are  called.  We  invite  fur- 
ther contributions  for  this  specific  object." 


12.    Manifold  Usefulness  of  the  Society. 

This  able  Report  closes  with  a  number  of  interesting  facts 
reportcil  during  the  year,  showing  the  usefulness  of  the 
•Society's  Tracts  in  the  conversion  of  sinners ;  in  checking 


MANIFOLD   USEFULNESS  OF   THE   SOCIETY.  43 

the  progress  of  intemperance,  and  promoting  the  revival 
of  religion — the  first  fruits  of  its  future  glorious  harvest 
unto  God.  Had  we  space,  we  should  be  happy  to  present 
some  of  them  here.  One  indeed  we  must  give  as  a 
specimen. 

A  minister  in  a  sea-port  of  Massachusetts  furnished  the 
following  account :  "An  interesting  young  man,  whose 
parents  and  a  younger  brother  had  recently  become  the 
disciples  of  Jesus,  still  remained  himself  indisposed  to  a 
serious  consideration  of  religion  ;  and  to  the  grief  of  those 
who  knew  and  loved  him  manifested  the  alarming  indica- 
tion of  growing  skepticism.  A  mariner  from  his  child- 
hood, he  was  at  this  period  the  master  of  a  vessel  destined 
for  a  foreign  port ;  and,  on  leaving  home,  he  received,  with 
a  contemptuous  sneer,  the  Bible  which  maternal  affection 
urged  upon  him.  To  the  intimation  of  his  jesting  com- 
panions, that  he  might  soon  follow  the  example  of  his  pa- 
rents and  brothers,  in  their  public  profession  of  religion,  he 
replied,  with  awful  imprecations  on  himself  if  that  should  be. 
A  few  weeks  bore  him  far  away  from  those  friends  whose 
delusion  he  affected  to  despise.  He  was  on  the  trackless 
ocean  with  no  Christian  near  him.  But  God  was  there ; 
and  now,  for  the  first  time,  he  became  convinced  of  His 
power,  and  wisdom,  and  justice ;  and  with  this  conviction 
came  the  overwhelming  consciousness  of  his  delinquency 
and  danger.  He  opened  the  word  of  God,  but  it  spoke  his 
deserved  and  aggravated  condemnation.  He  fell  on  his 
knees  before  the  Most  High,  but  the  imprecations  of  past 
years  terrified  his  soul,  and  seemed  to  drive  him  from  the 
mercy  seat.  For  five  days  his  agony  of  spirit  increased, 
and  he  was  trembling  on  the  borders  of  despair.  At  this 
critical  period  he  found  a  small  parcel  of  long  neglected 
Tracts.  The  Great  Question  Answered,  arrested  his  imme- 
diate and  earnest  attention.  The  first  caution  there  given 
against  some  of  the  principal  dangers  of  an  awakened  soul, 


44  AMERICAN   BAPTIST  PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

exactly  met  his  own  case,  and  the  selection  of  scriptures 
there  adduced,  kindled  the  first  ray  of  hope  in  his  darkened 
soul,  that  even  for  him  there  might  be  pardon  ;  that  pardon 
he  sought  and  found,  and  its  peace  and  joy  were  shed 
abroad  in  his  heart.  You  can  imagine  with  what  feelings 
his  father  met  him  on  his  return  ;  no  more  a  scoffer,  but  a 
disciple  of  that  faith  which  lately  he  despised."  The  writer 
adds,  "  Go  on  then,  my  brethren,  go  on  and  prosper,  till 
those  on  the  land  and  on  the  sea  all  have  some  of  the  truths 
of  salvation,  which  your  Tracts  so  richly  furnish." 

Several  changes  were  made  in  the  Board  at  this  anni- 
versary. Morgan  J.  Rhees  became  Recording  Secretary, 
and  Messrs.  Thomas  Brown,  John  H.  Smith  and  Philolo- 
gus  Loud,  took  the  place  of  Messrs.  Ashton,  Kitts  and 
Hacker,  in  the  Board  of  Directors. 

The  statistical  table  published  in  the  Magazine,  showed 
an  increase  in  1828  of  It  Baptist  Associations,  204 
Churches,  335  Ministers,  29,031  Baptized,  and  33,921 
Members  over  the  preceding  year.  The  returns  were  more 
full,  but  still  far  from  perfect.  "  If  we  had  perfect  returns, 
the  number  baptized  would,  we  think,  prove  to  be  nearer 
forty  than  twenty-nine  thousand."  Some  minutes  do  not 
give  the  baptisms,  nor  the  totals  of  the  churches,  nor  dis- 
tinguish the  names  of  ministers.  The  manner  of  printing 
the  minutes  is  capable  of  much  improvement.  They  should 
be  all  of  the  same  size,  viz.,  octavo;  the  totals  should  be 
counted  up,  and  the  ministers  distinguished  by  some  mark" 
— whether  ordained,  or  only  licentiates.  "A  more  general 
correspondence  among  the  associations  by  mail,  is  now 
easy.  In  this  way  interesting  intelligence  and  judicious 
plans  of  doing  good,  may  be  widely  diffused  among  the 
churches." 

These  extracts  illustrate  in  how  many  ways  the  Society 
was  operating  as  a  vital  organ  of  union  and  improvement 


SIXTH   ANNUAL   MEETING.  45 

to  the  denomination — including  at  that  time,  it  was  esti- 
mated, a  population  of  two  millions  of  souls. 


13.  Sixth  Annual  Meeting,  1830. 

The  Society  held  its  Sixth  Annual  Meeting,  with  the 
Fifth  Baptist  Church,  Philadelphia,  Jan  6,  1830.  The 
Annual  Report  was  read  by  the  Agent,  Noah  Davis ;  and 
announced  with  becoming  gratitude  "the  uninterrupted 
harmony  and  prosperity"  of  their  labors  through  another 
year. 

Several  pages  are  devoted  to  an  exhibition  of  interesting 
instances  of  the  blessings  conferred  by  means  of  the  Society's 
Tracts  during  the  year.  The  Tracts  particularly  honored 
were  No.  47,  "  Examine  your  State  ;"  No.  52,  "  The  Na- 
ture and  Importance  of  Repentance ;"  No.  43,  "  The  Con- 
version of  Andrew  Fuller  ;"  and  his  tract,  No.  6,  "  The 
Great  Question  Answered;"  No.  30,  "  The  Death  of  an 
Infidel;"  and  No.  4,  "  The  Life  and  Experience  of  Mrs. 
Hamilton."  The  Report  remarks,  "it  is  so  cheering  to 
our  hearts  to  obtain  this  kind  of  evidence  of  the  favor 
of  our  Lord,  we  hope  our  brethren  in  every  part  of  the 
country  will  be  ready  to  communicate  to  us  a  knowledge  of 
all  such  instances  as  may  become  known  to  them.  It  de- 
serves to  be  mentioned  to  the  praise  of  God,  that  the  ac- 
counts of  conversions  effected  by  means  of  Tracts,  which  are 
constantly  published  in  the  magazines  and  reports  of  the 
American  and  London  Tract  Societies,  are  very  numerous, 
and  show  abundantly  that  it  is  a  chosen  method  by  which 
the  Holy  Spirit  is  turning  the  hearts  of  many  of  the  diso- 
bedient to  the  wisdom  of  the  just.  Perhaps  it  is  safe  to 
say  that  there  is  no  class  of  human  writings,  which  produces 
so  great  and  extensive  results  of  spiritual  good,  and  ob- 
tains so  many  testimonies  of  divine  approbation  as  Tracts." 


46  AMERICAN  BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

The  receipts  for  the  year — all  from  regular  sources — in  a 
season  of  unusual  pressure,  were  $5,536.39  ;  the  appropria- 
tions, $5,641.06.  "The  business  of  the  year,"  says  the 
Report,  "  has  been  conducted  without  embarrassment.  The 
Board  has  been  able  at  all  times  to  keep  a  full  supply  of 
Tracts  on  hand,  and  pay  the  bills  for  paper,  printing,  &c., 
as  they  have  been  presented  ;  so  that  the  balance  due  from 
the  Society  for  its  various  purposes,  is  not  greater  than  it 
was  at  the  close  of  1828.  This  has  been  in  part  the  result 
also  of  a  rule  which  the  Board  passed  about  a  year  ago,  re- 
quiring payment  for  Tracts  on  delivery.  The  propriety 
and  wisdom  of  this  measure  we  had  no  reason  to  doubt. 

A  legacy  of  $200,  from  "a  sister  in  the  Lord,"  in  Con- 
necticut, was  received. 

Twenty-six  new  Tracts,  from  No.  63  to  No.  88,  containing 
304  pages,  were  added  to  the  series.  "  Besides  these,  by 
an  arrangement  with  the  publishers  of  "  Wisdom's  Voice 
to  the  Rising  Generation  on  Intemperance,"  brethren 
Clopton  and  Ball  of  Virginia,  the  Society  came  into  pos- 
session of  the  plates  of  that  useful  and  important  work.  It 
contains  180  pages,  which  added  to  1112  pages  included  in 
the  regular  series  of  Tracts,  makes  in  the  whole  1292  pages 
of  stereotype  plates."  The  number  of  Tracts  printed  during 
the  year,  was  446,750,  containing  4,941,000  pages.  "Our 
Tracts  are  selected  with  reference  to  permanent  utility,  and 
are  worthy  of  preservation  for  many  years  to  come.  A 
minister  of  Massachusetts  in  writing  to  the  Agent  says,  of 
our  tract,  No.  80,  '  The  Backslider,  by  Fuller,  is  one  of 
the  best  things  he  ever  wrote,  or  you  ever  published.' " 

Seven  new  Depositories  were  opened  in  important  towns, 
three  of  them  only  at  the  expense  of  the  General  Society ; 
the  others  by  liberal  friends  of  the  cause  in  the  several 
localities.  "This,"  says  the  Report,  "is  the  true  plan  of 
establishing  Depositories  of  Tracts ;  and  if  these  examples 
should  be  followed,  our  Tracts  will  soon  become  accessible 


TRACTS  FOR   EVERY   CHURCH.  47 

to  all  the  churches  of  our  Lord,  throughout  the  length  and 
breadth  of  the  land." 

Two  additional  Branch  Societies  were  formed  at  PORT- 
LAND, Me.,  and  HARTFORD,  Conn.  "  This  increases  the 
number  to  five,  which  have  their  own  auxiliaries  and  manage 
their  own  Depositories.  The  whole  number  of  Auxiliary 
Societies,  including  the  branches,  from  which  remittances 
were  received  in  1829,  is  one  hundred  and  sixty-three. 
The  whole  number  engaged  in  circulating  our  Tracts,  three 
hundred  and  twenty-two.  In  order  to  secure  the  perma- 
nence and  usefulness  of  them  all,  we  venture  to  suggest  the 
desirableness  of  appointing  from  the  members  of  each  a 
band  of  active  male-  and  female  collectors,  to  assist  the 
Agent  in  obtaining  subscribers  and  circulating  Tracts  ;  and 
that  they  make  vigorous  efforts  not  only  to  induce  the 
members  of  the  Churches  to  subscribe ;  but,  also,  all  others 
whom  they  can,  whether  professors  of  religion  or  not ;  as 
thus  the  Gospel  may  be  often  conveyed  into  families  and 
neighborhoods  to  which  we  cannot  extend  scarcely  any 
other  instrumentality.  The  quarterly  distribution  of  the 
Tracts  among  the  subscribers,  instead  of  delivering  them 
all  at  once,  will  also  be  found  a  happy  expedient  for  securing 
the  reading  of  them,  and  keeping  alive  an  interest  in  the 
subject. " 


14.  Tracts  for  every  Church. 

The  most  important  feature  of  this  year's  Report  is 
that  which  records  the  noble  effort  of  the  Society,  which 
they  entitle,  TRACTS  FOR  EVERY  CHURCH.  "  At  the  monthly 
meeting  of  the  Board  in  April,  it  was  resolved  to  supply 
every  Baptist  Church  in  the  United  States,  that  had  not 
supplied  itself,  with  Tracts  from  No.  1  to  No.  54,  making 
600  pages,  gratis,  on  application  of  a  minister  or  a  deacon  of 


48  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

each  Church,  as  specimens  of  our  publications ;  with  the 
hope  that  they  would  so  approve  of  them  as  to  make  efforts 
to  obtain  others — not  only  of  those  numbers,  but  of  the 
whole  series.  It  was  believed  that  there  are  at  least  4,000 
Baptist  Churches  in  the  United  States  and  British  Pro- 
vinces, that  had  not  seen  our  Tracts ;  and  although  the 
effort  appeared  a  great  one  for  our  means,  yet  in  reliance 
on  the  favor  of  God  and  the  aid  of  his  people,  the  resolu- 
tion was  adopted.  In  July  the  Agent  addressed  a  circular 
to  all  the  Associations,  requesting  them  to  lay  the  subject 
before  the  Churches,  that  they  might  order  the  Tracts  of 
the  Agents  of  our  Depositories.  Many  of  them  have 
passed  resolutions  approving  the  plan  and  objects  of  the 
Society,  and  recommending  the  Churches  to  receive  our  do- 
nation and  form  Societies  for  the  further  circulation  of  them. 
Four  hundred  and  fifty  Churches  have  applied  for  Tracts. 
The  number  of  pages  issued  gratis  to  these  is  270,000." 

The  Statistical  Table  in  the  Magazine,  shows  an  increase 
for  the  year  1829  of  16  Associations,  328  Churches,  92 
Ministers,  18,804  Baptized,  and  of  21,446  Members.  The 
returns  on  the  column  of  Baptism  as  compared  with  that 
of  the  Members,  shows  the  deficiency  of  the  Minutes  in 
this  particular.  The  same  is  true  of  the  column  of  Minis- 
ters. Yet  manifest  improvements  in  the  mode  of  printing 
the  Minutes  are  recognized  with  pleasure.  "  It  is  also  very 
gratifying  to  discover  that  so  many  of  the  Associations  are 
beginning  to  make  efforts  to  fulfill  the  design  of  their 
organization  by  abounding  in  good  resolutions  and  actions. 
We  hope  the  time  will  soon  come  when  it  will  be  no  longer 
necessary  to  form  such  a  portion  of  the  members  of  our 
Churches  as  may  be  found  willing  to  aid  in  the  enlargement 
of  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  into  Societies  for  the  purpose, 
but  when  Church  Members  will  become  so  deeply  imbued 
with  the  Spirit  of  the  Gospel,  that  all  of  them  will  be  of 
one  heart  and  of  one  soul  in  the  business ;  and  make  it  as 


SABBATH    SCHOOLS.  49 

it  must  be  the  greatest  object  of  their  lives  to  make  known 
by  every  possible  means  the  rich  grace  of  Him  who  has 
redeemed  us  from  everlasting  woe,  and  prepared  for  us  a 
kingdom  and  a  crown  that  shall  never  fade  away." 

A  list  of  all  the  Baptist  Ministers  in  the  United  States 
and  British  Possessions,  as  far  as  it  could  be  ascertained, was 
published  in  the  Tract  Magazine  for  January,  in  connection 
with  the  Associations  to  which  they  belonged. 


15.  Sabbath  Schools. 

A  suggestion  is  made  in  reference  to  Sabbath -Schools 
at  this  time  too  pregnant  to  be  overlooked.  Several  Asso- 
ciations were  beginning  to  request  from  the  Churches  regu- 
lar returns  of  the  Sabbath  Schools  connected  with  them, 
and  to  print  them  in  their  Minutes.  On  this  fact  it  is 
observed,  "  If  this  plan  should  be  universally  adopted,  we 
shall  be  able  to  make  up  an  annual  account  of  the  whole 
number  of  Sabbath  Schools,  teachers  and  scholars  con- 
nected with  the  Baptist  Churches  in  the  United  States. 
This  would  be  a  very  interesting  and  important  item  of 
intelligence.  The  time  may  come  when  the  number  of 
schools  in  our  denomination  will  be  so  great  as  to  require 
the  Tract  Society  to  publish  a  series  of  Sabbath  School 
books  suited  to  their  wants."  An  anticipation  fulfilled 
within  ten  years,  by  the  reorganization  of  the  Baptist 
General  Tract  Society  under  the  name  of  the  AMERICAN 
BAPTIST  PUBLICATION  SOCIETY. 

THE  YOUTH'S  MAGAZINE  AND  PARENT'S  OFFERING, 
which  had  heretofore  made  the  first  part  of  the  TRACT 
MAGAZINE,  was  at  this  time  put  up  also  in  a  separate  form 
of  12  pages,  and  sold  for  25  cents  a  year. 

At  this  Anniversary,  Rev.  William  T.  Brantly  was 
chosen  President  in  place  of  Rev.  Elisha  Cushman,  re- 
5 


50  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 

moved  to  Connecticut ;  and  Messrs.  T.  J.  Kitts,  W.  E. 
Ashton,  Joseph  Cone,  J.  R.  Dodge,  Wilson  Jewell,  John 
Mulford,  Jr.,  and  J.  K.  Hillegus,  were  chosen  to  fill 
vacancies  in  the  Board  of  Directors.  All  the  rest  were 
re-chosen. 


16.  Death  of  Rev.  Noah  Davis. 

The  active  mind  of  NOAH  DAVIS  which  was  thus  giving 
form  and  quickening  impulse  to  all  the  operations  of  the 
Society,  was,  alas,  soon  withdrawn  from  earth.  This  was 
the  last  anniversary  he  was  permitted  to  cheer  and  animate 
by  his  presence ;  the  Report  which  he  then  read,  was  the 
last  he  ever  penned.  In  the  month  of  July,  following,  he 
was  suddenly  called  to  his  heavenly  reward.  Is  it  too 
much  to  say  that  he  left  the  Society,  and  the  denomination, 
"all  light,  all  on  fire,  by  the  potent  contact  of  his  own 
spirit  ?" 


17.  Seventh  Annual  Meeting,  1831. 

The  Society  held  its  Seventh  Annual  Meeting  with  the 
First  Baptist  Church,  in  Second  Street,  Philadelphia,  Janu- 
ary 5th,  1831. 

The  Annual  Report  was  read  by  R.  W.  Cushman,  by 
whom,  at  the  request  of  the  Board,  it  had  been  prepared. 
It  is  .devoted  to  giving  an  account  of  "  WHAT  WE  HAVE 
DONE  ;  WHAT  WE  HAVE  SUFFERED  ;  AND  WHAT  WE  MUST 
Do." 

WHAT   WE    HAVE   DONE. 

"  We  have  increased  our  series  by  an  addition  of  sixteen 
new  Tracts,  comprising  244  pjijrcs,  and  have  thus  extruded 
our  number  from  88  to  104.  The  number  of  psi.i-vs  )>rit<l<'d 
during  the  year  is  2,427,000.  The  numluT  /.«s^.v/  from 


SEVENTH   ANNUAL   MEETING.  51 

the  Depository  is  2,688,364.  The  number  remaining  on 
hand  is  1,601,800." 

In  reference  to  the  liberal  offer  made  to  the  churches  in 
1829,  it  is  said,  "although  only  631  churches  out  of  nearly 
4000,  have  as  yet  availed  themselves  of  the  offer,  the  ac- 
counts we  have  received  of  their  influence  in  enlisting 
friends  in  the  cause  of  Tracts,  in  leading  to  the  formation 
of  Auxiliary  Societies,  and  in  augmenting  our  funds,  (to 
say  nothing  of  their  benefit  to  the  souls  of  those  who  have 
read  them,)  amply  justify  the  measure  of  their  gratuitous 
distribution." 

To  obviate  other  difficulties,  to  "  place  our  publications 
as  directly  as  possible  within  the  reach  of  individual  sub- 
scribers, and  to  diffuse  more  extensively  a  knowledge  of 
their  character,  the  Board  resolved  in  April  last,  to  issue 
their  Tracts  periodically ;  so  that  falling  under  the  cha- 
racter of  a  periodical  publication,  they  might  be  trans- 
ported by  mail,  at  the  rate  of  postage  affixed  to  periodi- 
cal publications,  which  is  about  one-third  of  that  to  which 
they  would  otherwise  be  subjected." 

The  editorship  of  the  MAGAZINE,  after  the  decease  of 
Rev.  NOAH  DAVIS,  was  committed  to  the  Rev.  WM.  T. 
BRANTLY. 

"WHAT  WE  HAVE  SUFFERED." 

"This  Society  has  experienced  a  most  unanticipated 
arrest,  during  the  past  year,  in  the  increasingly  rapid  pro- 
gress she  was  making  in  strength  and  activity.  Until  the 
present  year  our  receipts  have  been  regularly  increasing 
from  year  to  year.  The  first  year  after  the  removal  to  this 
city,  its  receipts  were  $3,158;  the  second  year,  $5,256; 
and  the  third,  $5,585  ;  and  if  their  increase  the  past  year 
had  been  in  proportion  equal  to  that  of  the  preceding  year, 
we  should  now  have  had  to  report  more  than  $5,830,  placed 
at  the  disposal  of  the  Society,  and  converted  by  the  blessing 


52  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

of  God  into  vehicles  of  light  and  salvation  for  our  churches 
and  our  country.  But  instead  of  realizing  the  antici- 
pations which  we  so  confidently  cherished  at  our  last 
Anniversary,  our  receipts  have  fallen  short  of  those  of  th& 
preceding  year:  being  only  $3,094.09,  which  is  $2,735.91 
less  than  they  proportionally  should  have  been. 

"  The  main  cause  of  this  diminution  is  to  be  found  in  the 
death  of  the  Society's  General  Agent.  A  dispensation  of 
Providence,  the  severity  of  which  your  Board  has  deeply 
felt  in  the  management  of  the  concerns  with  which  they 
have  been  entrusted,  and  which  the  Society  too  has  felt 
through  all  its  nerves  of  sensibility  and  strength. 

"Mr.  Davis,  confident  that  God  had  beckoned  the 
churches  of  our  denomination  to  the  objects  for  which  the 
Society  was  toiling,  and  that  he  had  already  set  the  seal  of 
his  approbation  on  her  infant  endeavors,  obeyed  her  call 
while  she  was  yet  small  and  feeble ;  united  his  destinies 
with  her's  ;  took  her  by  the  hand  ;  and  with  an  energy  and 
effect  altogether  beyond  our  anticipation  from  one  so 
young,  led  her  forward,  and  called  up  the  energies  of  the 
denomination  to  her  help. 

"  Possessing  a  mind  unusually  bold  and  practical ;  early 
formed  habits  of  activity ;  a  faith  that  unhesitatingly  associ- 
ated the  especial  guidance  of  heaven  with  every  event  and 
circumstance  which  concerned  the  welfare  of  Zion  ;  a  person 
and  mien  which  challenged  the  attention  and  respect  of 
strangers ;  while  the  openness  and  warmth  of  his  heart  was 
eminently  calculated  to  convert  acquaintance  into  friends, 
he  seemed  peculiarly  fitted,  by  the  '  Shepherd  and  Bishop 
of  souls,'  for  the  sphere  which  he  filled.  He  was  equally 
competent  to  be  the  Agent  of  the  Society,  and  its  Apostle: 
— to  superintend  the  numerous  details  of  its  business  at 
home,  and  to  go  forth  through  the  breadth  of  our  land, 
among  our  churches,  and  arouse  indifference  to  attention ; 
and  approval  to  co-operation. 


SEVENTH   ANNUAL   MEETING.  53 

"  From  his  peculiar  fitness  for  the  station,  and  from  what 
appeared  to  be  the  promise  of  his  constitution,  we  had 
anticipated  for  him  a  bright  and  long  career  of  usefulness 
in  promoting  the  interests  of  the  Society.  But  he  is  gone ; 
and  in  his  death  we  have  another  testimony  added  to  the 
providential  cloud"  of  witnesses  that  has  hung  around  the 
path  of  Christianity,  that  her  Lord,  in  leading  her  on  to 
dominion,  can  dispense  with  the  aid  of  the  brightest  and 
best  of  her  sons. 

"  To  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  death  of  Mr. 
Davis,  your  Board  proceeded,  after  considerable,  delay,  to 
elect  a  successor.  This  delay  was  occasioned  by  the 
anxiety  they  felt  to  make  such  an  election,  if  possible,  that 
the  Society  should  not  suffer  by  the  providential  change  in 
its  General  Agency.  The  Board  eventually,  after  much  in- 
quiry and  correspondence  with  brethren  in  different  parts 
of  the  country,  elected  the  Rev.  IRA  M.  ALLEN  ;  who  had 
been  favorably  known  to  them  as  having  been  formerly  a 
zealous  and  successful  agent  of  the  Missionary  cause  in 
the  Eastern  States ;  and,  for  a  number  of  years  past,  and 
at  the  time  of  his  election,  Editor  of  one  of  our  best  re- 
ligious periodicals  in  New  England.  Mr.  Allen  has  ac- 
cepted of  the  appointment ;  and  recently  arrived  in  this 
city,  and  entered  on  the  duties  of  his  office.  During  the 
interval  between  the  death  of  Mr.  Davis  and  the  arrival 
of  Mr.  Allen,  however,  a  period  of  near  six  months  has 
transpired — about  one  half  of  the  year — in  which  the  labors 
of  correspondence,  &c.,  connected  with  the  office,  have 
been  generously  and  gratuitously  borne  by  the  President 
of  the  Board." 

"WHAT  MUST  WE  DO." 

After  remarking  that  "  the  same  circumstances  in  the 
state  of  our  churches,  and  in  the  moral  condition  of  man- 


54  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

kind,  which  called  the  Society  into  existence  at  first,  im- 
plore its  energetic  activity  now,"  in  supplying  the  wants  of 
our  own  and  other  lands,  and  especially  through  the  press 
just  established  in  Burmah,  the  Report  closesjn  these  ani- 
mated terms  :  "  Oh  !  it  must  never  be  said  that  a  Society 
that  has  been  formed  in  the  name,  and  in  the  bosom  of  a 
denomination,  and  which  has  chosen  to  identify  its  cha- 
racter and  existence  with  those  of  a  denomination  which 
numbers  nearly  400,000  friends  of  truth  and  virtue  ;  and  a 
Society  whose  only  desire  is  to  make  those  friends  a  thou- 
sand times  as  many  as  they  are ;  that  such  a  Society  is  left 
by  that  denomination  to  languish,  lest  the  daughters  of  the 
Philistines  rejoice — lest  the  daughters  of  the  uncircumcised 
triumph. 

"  Up  then,  ye  friends  of  truth  and  virtue,  ye  adherents 
of  the  faith  which  was  once  delivered  to  the  saints ;  ye 
churches  and  pastors ;  ye  fathers  and  mothers  in  Israel ; 
young  men  and  maidens ;  old  men  and  children ;  all  of 
every  age,  and  sex,  and  condition,  wherever  this  report  of 
the  comparatively  little  this  Society  has  been  able  to  do 
for  the  past  year,  may  find  you,  whether  in  our  own  neigh- 
borhood or  in  the  remotest  border  of  our  land ;  awake  1 
awake  !  and  lend  your  aid  in  extending  the  triumphs  of 
truth,  till  the  kingdom,  and  the  dominion,  and  the  great- 
ness of  the  kingdom  under  the  whole  heaven,  shall  be  given 
to  the  people  of  the  Saints  of  the  Most  High  God." 

The  Annual  Report  of  the  Board,  together  with  the 
Trcnsurer's  Report,  were  accepted  and  ordered  to  be  pub- 
lished ;  after  which,  on  motion  of  J.  R.  Dodge,  seconded 
by  R.  W.  Cushman,  it  was 

"  Resolved,  that  the  increased  evidence  of  the  usefulness 
of  Tracts,  and  the  promotion  of  morality  and  piety,  affords 
fresh  occasion  of  gratitude  to  God,  and  an  incitement  to 
renewed  zeal  in  prosecuting  the  objects  of  this  Society." 

The  meeting  was  addressed  by  brethren  Bnintly,  Jones, 


MONTHLY   TRACT   DISTRIBUTION.  55 

Maylin,  Dodge,  and  Allen.  The  new  Board  consisted  of 
Wm.  T.  Brantly,  President;  John  L.  Dagg,  Vice-Presi- 
dent ;  Ira  M.  Allen,  General  Agent ;  Samuel  Huggins, 
Treasurer;  Wilson  Jewell,  Secretary;  Joseph  Maylin, 
Wm.  Ballentine,  David  Jones,  R.  W.  Cushman,  T.  J. 
Kitts,  Wm.  D.  Ashton,  J.  R.  Dodge,  G.  B.  Perry,  Mor- 
gan J.  Rhees,  Erasmus  Thomas,  Wm.  S.  Hansell,  Wm.  H. 
Richards,  John  Davis,  John  Mulford,  Jr.,  Joseph  Rey- 
nolds, Directors. 


18.  Monthly  Tract  Distribution. 

The  system  of  MONTHLY  TRACT  DISTRIBUTION,  adopted 
by  the  Society  this  year,  and  mentioned  in  the  Report,  was 
thought  to  possess  the  following  advantages,  among 
others  :  "  1.  This  method  is  peculiarly  calculated  to  bring 
divine  truth  in  contact  with  every  person,  and  particularly 
those  who  stand  most  aloof  from  every  other  means  of  re- 
ligious instruction,  in  small  portions  and  at  successive  in- 
tervals. 2.  Those  who  engage  heartily  in  this  work  will 
certainly  reap  an  important  advantage  from  it  themselves, 
in  an  enlarged  spirit  of  benevolent  feeling  and  enterprise. 

3.  It  will  keep  the  churches  in  motion — rousing  buried 
talents,  and  rubbing  off  the  rust  of  indolence  and  ease. 

4.  It  will  prove  an  important  auxiliary  to  every  minister 
of  the  Gospel  who  patronizes  it — extending  the  influence 
of  his  labors,  reaching  where  he  cannot  visit,  and  filling  up 
the  sanctuary  with  awakened  hearers  of  the  word.     It  will 
thus  abundantly  repay  the  expense  and  labor  which  it  in- 
volves ;  and  every  church  that  adopts  the  plan,  and  carries 
it  out,  will  be  a  Tree  of  Life  to  the  perishing  around  it. 

The  price  of  the  Society's  Tracts,  which  had  been  ten 
pages  for  a  cent,  without  reckoning  covers,  was  now 
altered  to  conform  to  that  of  the  American  Tract  Society, 


56  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

and  fixed  at  fifteen  pages  for  a  cent,  the  covers  being 
counted. 

Rev.  C.  D.  Mallary,  of  Georgia,  having  offered  the  year 
before  to  be  one  of  100  persons  to  give  each  $5  for  five 
years,  to  enable  the  Society  to  employ  suitable  Agents  to 
visit  the  churches  in  all  parts  of  the  United  States,  to  pro- 
mote its  great  objects,  his  plan  was  highly  approved  by  the 
Board,  and  a  beginning  made.  Paschal  Carter,  Thomas 
Teasdale,  and  Peter  Powell  were  employed  for  several 
months,  with  good  results.  But  the  plan  fell  through  for 
want  of  proper  support. 


19.  Monthly  Tract  Publications. 

The  plan  of  Monthly  Publications  of  New  Tracts  for 
subscribers  was  adopted  this  year  for  several  reasons. 
1.  To  keep  subscribers  and  Life  Members  in  more  frequent 
remembrance  of  the  Society.  2.  To  acquaint  them 
monthly  with  its  progress.  3.  To  save  postage  in  sending 
the  Tracts  under  the  law  of  periodicals.  The  plan  proved 
a  failure.  The  whole  receipts  from  this  source  for  the  first 
year  was  but  $17. 


20.  Eighth  Annual  Meeting,  1832. 

The  Eighth  Annual  Meeting  was  held  with  the  Fifth 
Baptist  Church,  Sansom  Street,  Jan.  4th,  1832.  Rev.  W. 
T.  Brantly  in  the  chair.  The  Annual  Report  was  read 
by  Rev.  IRA  M.  ALLEN,  the  General  Agent,  and  adopted 
for  publication  under  the  direction  of  the  Board.  It  was 
followed  by  the  Treasurer's  Report.  The  following  reso* 
lution  was  presented  by  Dr.  Jewell,  and  seconded  by  Wm. 
II.  Richards,  Esq. 

"  Resolved,  That  inasmuch  as  the  field  of  this  Society's 


EIGHTH   ANNUAL   MEETING.  57 

operations  continues  to  enlarge,  demanding  both  an  in- 
crease of  means  and  redoubled  efforts  ou  the  part  of  its 
friends,  we  will  exercise  all  our  influence  to  enlist  the  ener- 
gies of  our  denomination  in  its  behalf,  and  use  all  our 
powers  in  procuring  funds  by  subscriptions  and  donations 
to  relieve  the  Society  from  its  present  embarrassments." 

Rev.  Joseph  H.  Kennard  was  chosen  on  the  new  Board 
this  year,  in  place  of  Morgan  J.  Rhees. 

From  the  Annual  Report  it  appears  that  notwithstanding 
pecuniary  embarrassments,  fourteen  new  Tracts  had  been 
added  to  the  Society's  Catalogue,  from  No.  105  to  No. 
118  inclusive;  that  6,020,160  pages  of  Tracts  had  been 
printed,  of  which  4,677,930  pages  had  been  put  in  circu- 
lation. The  receipts  for  the  year  had  been  $4,506.34.  In 
the  eight  years  of  the  Society's  operations  up  to  this  time, 
it  had  received  in  all  $23,362.06,  and  had  issued  23,840,160 
pages  of  Tracts.  The  number  of  stereotype  plates  added 
in  the  year  was  438  pages — making  in  all,  2061  pages  be- 
longing to  the  Society.  Five  volumes  of  Tracts,  to  No. 
117,  had  been  bound ;  and  ten  half  volumes,  for  the  use  of 
Sabbath  Schools. 

Eighty  churches,  more  than  half  of  these  in  Illinois, 
had  availed  themselves  of  the  liberal  offer  of  1829  during 
this  year,  and  had  received  53,000  pages.  Of  the  utility 
of  this  plan  and  its  adaptation  to  the  wants  of  the  West, 
the  Board  had  received  the  following  testimony  from  an 
intelligent  correspondent  residing  in  that  region:  "The 
plan  of  giving  600  pages  to  each  church  is  an  excellent 
one  for  this  country,  and  the  friends  in  the  old  States  ought 
to  help  in  this  cause.  It  is  very  important  for  this  coun- 
try, for  almost  every  expense  of  religion  and  benevolence 
falls  comparatively  on  a  few  individuals,  and  most  of  these 
struggling  with  the  difficulties  of  beginning  a  settlement  in 
a  new  country.  I  think  I  can  supply  one  hundred  churches 
in  this  way,  if  allowed.  I  assure  you  that  a  portion  of  the 


58  AMERICAN    BAPTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 

Baptists  in  the  West,  are  in  a  deplorable  condition  ;  but  we 
do  not  despair.  We  see  that  light,  truth,  and  holy  influ- 
ence are  spreading. " 

Fifteen  hundred  copies  of  the  Tract  Magazine  had  been 
issued. 

The  sales  of  stationery  and  books  on  commission  at  the 
Depository  of  the  Society,  No.  21  South  Fourth  Street, 
amounted  this  year  to  $434.65,  and  the  profits  to  $90.50. 

Of  $4,506.34,  the  total  receipts  for  the  year,  $500  was  a 
legacy  from  Dea.  JOSIAH  PENFIELD,  of  Savannah,  Ga.  The 
expenditures  of  the  year  were  $5,447.86  ;  an  excess  beyond 
receipts  of  $941.52 ;  making  the  debt  of  the  Society,  Jan. 
4th,  1832,  $3,241.52.  (Assets,  $7000.)  This  debt  had 
been  the  growth  of  the  last  four  years,  in  consequence  of 
the  receipts  not  keeping  pace  with  the  expenditures  neces- 
sary to  carry  on  the  Society's  operations.  A  proposition 
was  made  by  a  brother  near  Philadelphia  to  give  $100 
towards  liquidating  the  debt,  provided  19  other  individuals 
or  churches  would  do  the  same  within  ninety  days. 

One  additional  Branch  Society,  making  the  number  6 ; 
and  87  new  Auxiliaries,  making  the  number  actually  re- 
mitting funds  222,  had  been  formed  during  the  year.  The 
whole  number  of  Depositories,  including  those  of  the 
Branches,  with  the  General  Depository  in  Philadelphia, 
was  37.  Those  at  Columbus,  Ga. ;  Bluffdale,  111.  ;  Zanes- 
ville,  Ohio ;  Windsor,  Yt.  ;  and  Fort  Covington  and  Og- 
densburg,  N.  Y.,  were  opened  within  the  year.  The  ne- 
cessity of  capital  to  keep  all  these  Depositories  fully  sup- 
plied with  the  Society's  publications  was  obvious. 


21.  Memorable  Testimonies. 

Rev.  Peter  Powell,  Edward  Mitchell,  Harvey  B.  Dodge 
and   Robert   Fleming,   had  been   employed   for   different 


MEMORABLE   TESTIMONIES.  59 

periods,  as  traveling  agents,  with  good  results.  Mr. 
Powell,  who  spent  forty  weeks  in  the  West,  says  in  his  re- 
port :  "  I  have  traveled  several  thousand  miles  in  the  States 
of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Kentucky  and  Pennsylvania,  and  visited 
nearly  200  churches.  Of  these  only  one  in  thirtceen  is 
supplied  steadily  with  preaching  more  than  once  a  month  ; 
and  but  five  of  the  whole  number  more  than  twice  in  a 
month  ;  while  many  have  no  regular  preaching  at  all. 

"The  Tracts  of  your  Society's  publication  are  so  happily 
selected,  and  on  such  a  diversity  of  subjects,  that  there  is 
scarcely  a  situation  in  which  any  of  the  human  family  can 
be  found,  but  you  have  a  Tract  to  suit  his  case. 

"  In  many  instances  those  who  are  now  giving  liberally 
to  the  support  of  your  Society,  were  either  opposed  to  the 
cause,  or  else  altogether  indifferent  on  the  subject.  And 
what  is  the  cause  of  this  striking  change  ?  It  is  simply 
this  ;  they  were  then  ignorant  of  the  character  of  your 
publications,  with  which  they  are  now  acquainted.  They 
have  witnessed  the  blessing  of  the  Lord  following  their 
circulation  wherever  they  have  gone.  They  have  perceived 
that  these  are  some  of  'the  weak  things  which  he  has  chosen 
to  destroy  the  mighty.' 

"  For  my  part,  I  do  most  sincerely  and  conscientiously 
believe  that  such  an  anomaly  is  not  to  be  found,  as  that  of 
a  man  or  woman  possessing  a  Christian  spirit,  fully  ac- 
quainted with  your  publications,  and  whose-  religious  tenets 
accord  with  those  of  the  regular  Baptists,  who  is  not  an 
advocate  for  their  circulation." 

The  Annual  Report  of  this  year  notices  the  fact,  that 
the  American  Tract  Society  was  employing  nine  Agents  in 
the  Western  country,  while  the  Baptist  General  Tract 
Society,  formed  a  year  earlier,  was  able  to  employ  only 
one.  The  fruits  of  this  more  liberal  culture  of  the  field  for 
the  past  quarter  of  a  century  are  at  this  time  strikingly 
apparent. 


60  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

A  letter  from  a  brother  in  Illinois,  acknowledging  a 
donation  of  Tracts  and  Books,  which  had  been  sent  him 
from  contributions  in  Philadelphia  and  New  Jersey,  is 
worthy  of  preservation  here,  as  a  specimen  of,  the  feelings 
of  Western  men. 

"  Thanks  be  to  God  that  you  have  opened  to  me  another 
field  of  usefulness.  I  am  confident  that  much  good  is  in 
store  for  this  region.  In  the  whole  transaction  of  sup- 
plying books  to  us,  I  see  the  hand  of  God  as  clear  as 
noonday.  I  am  astonished  at  what  has  been  done.  When 
I  wrote  you  first,  my  heart  was  oppressed  with  gloom  and 
despondency  in  view  of  the  prospect  before  us.  The 
emotions  which  your  answer  excited,  I  should  attempt  in 
vain  to  express.  I  resolved  never  again  to  distrust,  how- 
ever dark  the  hour.  .  .  .  Your  donation  is  destined  to 
exert  a  powerful  influence  over  many  immortal  souls.  The 
eagerness  with  which  the  children  and  youth  listen  when  1 
read  to  them  ;  the  thankfulness  they  manifest  for  the  loan  of 
a  book  ;  and,  more  than  all,  the  sensation  which  your  letter 
has  produced,  indicate  that  they  will  produce  an  effect  that 
may  be  felt  forever. 

"  In  no  place  can  your  Tracts  be  more  wanted  than  here. 
Preaching  of  any  kind  is  extremely  rare.  To-morrow  is 
the  Sabbath.  Here  will  be  heard  no  Sabbath  bell ;  and 
nowhere  within  the  distance  of  twelve  miles  at  least,  will 
be  heard  the  sound  of  the  Gospel.  .  .  Here  the  man  with 
no  religious  sentiment  invariably  devotes  that  day  to  hunt- 
ing, unless  a  stronger  inducement  is  laid  before  him  to  at- 
tend to  something  like  public  worship.  Never  before  did  I 
so  deeply  feel  the  value  of  a  book.  An  interesting  Tract, 
a  religious  periodical,  or  other  interesting  work,  will  call 
the  people  from  the  profanation  of  that  holy  day,  and  place 
them  within  the  sound  of  the  tidings  of  salvation." 


LETTER   OF   DR.    JUDSON. 

22.  Letter  of  Dr.  Judson.     Demand  for  Burman  Tracts. 

The  claims  of  Burmah  were  enforced  this  year  by  an 
affecting  letter  from  Mr.  Judson  at  Rangoon,  in  which 
were  first  recorded  the  memorable  words  now  grown 
familiar  to  us  all. 

"  The  Great  Annual  Festival  is  just  past.  During  this 
festival  I  have  given  away  nearly  10,000  Tracts,  giving  to 
none  but  those  who  ask.  I  presume  there  have  been  6,000 
applicants  at  the  house.  Some  come  two  or  three  months' 
journey  from  the  borders  of  Siam  and  China — '  Sir,  we  hear 
that  there  is  an  eternal  hell.  We  are  afraid  of  it.  Do  give 
us  a  writing  that  will  tell  us  how  to  escape  it.'  Others  come 
from  the  frontier  of  Cathay,  a  hundred  miles  north  of  Ava 

"Sir,  we  have  seen  a  writing  that  tells  us  about  an  eter- 
nal God.  Are  you  the  man  that  gives  away  such  writings  ? 
If  so,  pray  give  us  one,  for  we  want  to  know  the  truth  before 
we  die.'  Others  come  from  the  interior  of  the  country, 
where  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  is  little  known.  '  Are  you 
Jesus  Christ's  man  ?  Give  us  a  writing  that  tells  about 
Jesus  Christ.'  Bro.  Bennet  works  day  and  night  at  the 
press  ;  but  he  is  unable  to  supply  us  ;  for  the  sale  is  great 
at  Maulmain  and  Tavoy,  as  well  as  here.  .  .  A  spirit  of 
religious  inquiry  is  extensively  spreading  throughout  the 
country ;  and  the  signs  of  the  times  indicate  that  the  great 
renovation  of  Burmah  is  drawing  near." 

In  view  of  these  Eastern  and  Western  fields,  the  Board 
proposed  to  raise  $20,000  for  the  ensuing  year  ;  and  urged 
upon  the  churches  the  formation  of  new  Auxiliaries,  the 
distribution  of  Tracts,  and  every  other  practicable  method 
of  co-operation  in  the  great  work  of  the  Society. 

Many  instances  of  the  usefulness  of  the  Society's  Tracts 
in  the  course  of  the  year,  are  detailed  in   the   Annual 
Report. 
6 


62  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 


23.  Ninth  Annual  Meeting,  1833. 

The  Ninth  Anniversary  was  held  in  the  First  "Baptist 
Church,  Philadelphia,  Jan.  2,  1833.  Rev.  W.  T.  Brantly 
in  the  chair.  The  Annual  Report  of  the  Board  was 
read  by  the  General  Agent,  IRA  M.  ALLEN,  and  accepted 
for  publication.  On  motion  of  Rev.  G.  F.  Davis,  of 
Hartford,  Conn.,  seconded  by  Rev.  S.  Davis,  from  Clon- 
inel,  Ireland,  it  was. 

"  Resolved,  that  the  circulation  of  religious  Tracts  is  an 
effort  of  Christian  philanthropy  which  ought  not  to  be  de- 
spised, but  encouraged  by  increased  patronage,  as  an  im- 
portant means  of  doing  good." 

Deeply  interesting  addresses  were  delivered  by  Brn. 
Southwood,  G.  F.  Davis,  S.  Davis  and  L.  Fletcher,  and  a 
collection  taken  of  over  $100,  for  the  benefit  of  the  Society. 
The  action  of  the  Board  reducing  the  price  of  the  Tracts 
to  fifteen  pages  for  one  cent,  was  sanctioned  by  a  vote  of  the 
Society,  changing  the  6th  Article  of  the  Constitution. 
Officers  for  the  year,  Win.  T.  Brantly,  President;  J.  L. 
Dagg,  Vice  President;  Ira  M.  Allen,  General  Agent; 
Wm.  Ford,  Secretary;  S.  Huggins,  Treasurer;  J.  May- 
lin,  D.  Jones,  R.  W.  Cushman,  Wm.  E.  Ashton,  Wm.  S. 
Hansell,  Wm.  II.  Richards,  J.  Davis,  J.  Mulford,  Jr.,  J. 
Reynolds,  J.  H.  Kennard,  Isaac  Reed,  D.  B.  Hinman,  L. 
Fletcher,  P.  Webster,  W.  Vandyke,  Directors. 

The  Annual  Report  states  that  from  a  desire  to  extin- 
guish the  debt  of  the  Society,  only  seven  new  Tracts  had 
been  issued  during  the  year — No.  119  to  No.  125  inclusive, 
comprising  128  pages.  No.  126,  "Booth's  Vindication  of 
the  Baptists",  had  been  commenced.  Number  of  pages 
printed,  1,202,000.  Number  of  pages  issued  from  the 
Depository  in  the  same  time,  2,703,000 ;  leaving  still  a 
balance  on  hand  for  future  circulation  of  1,452,000  pages. 


INFLUENCE   OF   OUR   TRACTS  IN   GERMANY.  63 

In  gratuitous  distribution,  however,  more  had  been  done 
than  in  any  preceding  year.  Of  $512.96  received  by 
donations  for  this  special  object,  $245  had  been  sent  to 
Burraah  to  aid  Mr.  Judson  in  printing  and  distributing 
Tracts  in  Burman,  besides  55,000  pages  of  our  Tracts  for 
circulation  among  the  English  in  that  country.  A  small 
appropriation  had  been  made  to  colored  brethren  in  Libe- 
ria ;  where,  to  use  the  language  of  Rev.  Mr.  Waring, 
"  there  was  such  a  rush  for  them,  that  many  persons  went 
off  without  any."  "  Such  presents,"  he  adds,  "  will  always 
be  thankfully  received  and  highly  valued." 


24.  Influence  of  our  Tracts  in  Germany.     Rev.  J.  G.  Oncken. 

But  a  more  important  field  of  usefulness  abroad  was 
opened  to  the  Society  this  year.  Through  Capt.  Tubbs,  a 
benevolent  brother  of  Philadelphia,  a  few  of  the  Society's 
Tracts  had  been  put  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  J.  G.  ONCKEN, 
of  Hamburg,  Germany.  Information  having  been  received 
by  a  letter  from  him  of  the  great  need  of  Baptist  Tracts  in 
Germany,  $60  was  forwarded  to  Mr.  ONCKEN,  at  Hamburg, 
for  the  purpose  of  publishing  the  "  Scripture  Manual  on 
Baptism"  in  the  German  language.  The  letter  of  Mr. 
ONCKEN,  who  was  not  yet  baptized,  contains  the  following 
remarkable  language. 

"The  publications  of  your  Society  on  Baptism  are  ad- 
mirable. They  were  quite  new  to  me,  and  have  tended  not 
a  little  to  establish  me  in  my  purpose  to  comply  with  this 
part  of  my  Saviour's  command  as  soon  as  possible.*  I  am 
very  anxious  that  some  of  these  excellent  treatises  should 

*  Bro.  Oncken  was  600  miles  distant  from  any  Baptist  church  j  and 
he,  with  some  twenty  or  thirty  others,  who  had  embraced  Baptist  senti- 
ments in  Hamburg,  was  waiting  for  the  arrival  of  an  administrator. 


64  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

be  translated  into  German,  and  be  extensively  circulated; 
for  the  views  of  Baptism  prevalent  in  this  country,  are  so 
injurious  to  the  right  understanding  of  the  plan  of  salvation 
as  laid  down  in  the  word  of  God,  and  to  the  spread  of  the 
G  ospel,  that  it  is  of  the  highest  importance  that  they  should 
be  counteracted ;  and  I  think  your  Tracts  are  admirably 
adapted  for  it.  But  alas  !  we  have  not  the  means  to  defray 
the  expenses  of  printing  them.  It  would  therefore  afford 
me  unspeakable  pleasure  if  your  Society  could  extend  its 
labors  to  infidel  Germany." 

Thus  began,  in  1832,  by  the  influence  of  some  of  our 
humblest  Tracts,  under  the  mighty  hand  of  God,  the  great 
work  of  Baptist  Evangelization  in  Germany,  from  which 
such  glorious  results  are  now  seen ;  which  has  penetrated 
into  Switzerland,  Denmark,  Norway,  Sweden,  and  even 
Austria  ;  which  has  already  planted  Baptist  churches  in 
all  the  principal  cities  and  capitals  of  Protestant  Europe, 
revolutionized  the  opinions  of  senates  and  kings  on  the 
subject  of  religious  liberty,  and  stirred  up  a  godly  jealousy 
of  active  emulation  among  the  best  men  of  the  State 
Churches,  as  is  apparent  in  the  organization  of  the  German 
"Church  Diet,"  and  the  "Inner  Mission." 


25.  The  West  and  South  West.     The  Aborigines. 

In  October,  100,000  pages  of  Tracts  were  sent  to  Rev. 
J.  M.  Peck,  of  Illinois,  for  gratuitous  distribution  at  the 
West.  The  following  is  an  extract  of  a  letter  from  him  : 
"I  have  just  returned  from  a  protracted  meeting  with  a 
class  of  people,  who  never  had  such  means  as  Tracts  before 
to  any  extent.  I  made  proclamation  from  the  stand  at  the 
intermission,  to  give  every  person  a  Tract.  About  300 
were  present,  and  the  people  pressed  around  with  great 
earnestness.  I  had  to  give  away  in  many  instances,  two 


THE   WEST   AND   SOUTH    WEST,  ETC.  65 

and  three  to  an  individual  who  would  beg  them  for  an 
absent  friend.  During  the  intervals  of  worship  the  people 
were  busily  employed  in  reading  them ;  thus  a  double 
advantage  was  gained.  About  twelve  persons  were  con- 
verted at  the  meeting  and  many  more  were  anxious." 

In  the  South  West  also  the  demand  was  urgent.  A 
worfhy  minister  of  Alabama  wrote  thus  :  "  This  country  is 
filled  with  Baptist  churches,  but  ministers  of  the  Gospel 
are  scarce.  The  churches  are  in  an  inactive  state  at  present, 
and  much  is  needed  to  be  done  to  break  the  lethargy  which 
has  long  pervaded  the  whole  Baptist  community,  and  awake 
us  to  a  full  sense  of  duty.  Other  denominations  have 
become  active  in  benevolent  objects,  and  now  the  Baptists 
are  of  the  opinion  generally,  that  it  is  exclusively  their 
work,  and  consequently  sectarian.  How  can  a  benevolent 
spirit  be  produced  with  the  most  success,  and  this  infatua- 
tion be  exposed  ?  My  own  opinion  is  that  it  must  be  done 
through  the  instrumentality  of  Tracts — Baptist  Tracts — 
and  Baptist  Missionary  labor. 

"  But  our  denomination  do  not  in  this  country  generally 
know  that  the  Baptists  issue  Tracts.  We  have  no  Deposi- 
tory in  North  Alabama.  This  is  a  wealthy  country. 
There  is  much  wealth  among  the  Baptists ;  but  public 
opinion  must  be  much  changed  before  it  will  be  turned  into 
its  proper  channel.  If  the  resolution  of  the  Tract  Society, 
passed  a  year  or  two  since,  (for  every  church  to  have  600 
pages,)  could  be  realized  by  the  churches  here,  it  is  probable 
that  they  might  be  attended  with  much  good.  We  have 
upwards  of  20  churches  in  this,  the  Flint  River  Associa- 
tion." 

The  Society  responded  to  this  call  by  an  appropriation 
of  600  pages  to  each  of  these  20  churches,  and  to  63 
others  in  Mississippi  and  Alabama.  All  the  good  antici- 
pated has  since  followed. 

Nor  were  our  aborigines  overlooked.  A  small  donation 
6* 


66  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

of  our  Tracts  was  sent  in  the  summer  to  Mr.  John  Davis, 
a  Creek  Indian,  a  Baptist  preacher  among  his  countrymen, 
west  of  the  Mississippi.  In  reply,  he  writes  as  follows : 
"  Three  weeks  ago  I  received  the  Tracts  which  you  had  the 
kindness  to  send  me.  I  thank  you  for  your  kindness. 
Your  publications  I  should  be  very  thankful  to  receive,  for 
I  live  in  a  country  which  affords  no  means  of  information. 
I  would  also  ask  you  for  some  Sabbath  School  books,  for 
Bro.  Lewis  and  myself  are  about  to  open  a  Sabbath  School, 
with  very  few  spelling  books ;  and  I  am  certain  we  shall 
have  more  children  and  grown  people  than  books.  How- 
ever, we  have  been  advised  by  Bro.  McCoY,  to  cut  the 
leaves  out  of  the  spelling  books  and  give  to  the  people,  if 
we  should  have  more  people  than  books,  and  to  teach  on 
with  those  books  until  we  can  get  a  supply  from  some 
quarter." 


26.  Tract  Magazine,  etc. 

The  Tract  Magazine,  important  as  it  was  to  the  interests 
of  the  Society,  having  hitherto  failed  to  pay  its  expenses, 
owing  to  its  low  price  and  the  remissness  of  subscribers  in 
making  advance  payments,  it  was  resolved  by  the  Board  to 
reduce  the  size  on  the  1st  of  January,  from  a  sheet  to 
half  a  sheet  monthly,  and  continue  it  as  before. 

The  amount  of  books  sold  on  commission  at  the  Central 
Depository  in  South  Fourth  Street,  was  $932.70,  with  a 
profit  to  the  Society  of  $166. 

The  total  receipts  of  the  year  were  $5213.27  :  the 
expenditures  $3468.17  :  leaving  a  balance  of  $1745.10,  to 
be  applied  to  the  reduction  of  the  Society's  debt. 


TWO   PLANS   OF   DEPOSITORIES.      RESULTS.  6T 


27.  Two  Flans  of  Depositories.     Results. 

Three  new  Depositories  were  established  at  Detroit, 
Michigan ;  Westport,  N.  Y. ;  and  Whitingham,  Yt. — 
making  the  whole  number  thirty-nine ;  of  which  all  but 
seven  were  sustained  by  the  parent  Institution.  The 
expense  of  sustaining  these  Depositories  was  found  already 
very  burdensome,  and  greatly  impeding  the  Society's  ope- 
rations. To  effect  a  salutary  change  in  this  respect,  the 
Board  this  year  earnestly  recommended  to  the  friends 
of  the  cause  in  those  places  where  Depositories  were  estab- 
lished, to  raise  funds,  purchase  the  Depositories,  and  take 
the  entire  management  of  them  into  their  own  hands.  In 
support  of  this  recommendation  it  was  urged  that  "other- 
wise the  General  Society  will  be  compelled  to  remove  them 
from  their  present  locations.  Those  Depositories  which 
are  owned  by  Branch  Societies  are  prosperous,  while  most 
of  the  others  have  made  no  remittances  during  the  past  year. 
The  stock  of  Tracts  in  these  several  Depositories  of  the 
General  Society  amount  to  at  least  $4,000.  The  Society 
not  only  loses  the  interest  of  this  sum,  which  is  $240 ;  but 
it  sustains  a  loss  on  the  depreciation  of  the  property,  and 
from  other  causes.  These  evils  must  be  remedied. " 

The  number  of  new  Auxiliaries  formed  was  thirty-five. 
The  names  of  eight  Life  Directors,  and  thirty-eight  Life 
Members  were  added ;  making  the  whole  number  of  the 
former  69,  and  of  the  latter  312.  The  only  traveling 
agent  employed,  was  Rev.  Peter  Simouson,  for  twelve 
weeks,  who  formed  fifteen  Auxiliaries,  and  collected  $300 
in  cash,  besides  more  than  $100  in  pledges. 


68  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 


28.  Obligations  to  the  Society.     Rev.  D.  Cameron. 

The  Annual  Report  closes  in  the  following  words : 
"  We  cannot  forbear  to  inquire,  What  are  our  obligations 
as  individual  Christians  and  as  a  denomination,  to  a  Society 
which  has  put  within  our  reach  so  many  valuable  publica- 
tions, at  a  price  so  low  that  the  poorest  members  of  our 
churches  may  afford  to  possess  them  ?  Can  there  be  a 
Sabbath  School  where  they  are  not  introduced,  or  a  con- 
gregation without  a  pastor,  which  is  not  supplied  with 
those  "precious  substitutes  for  the  ministry  of  the  word  ? 
Can  there  be  a  pastor  who  does  not  make  them  the  com- 
panions of  his  visits  among  his  people  ?  or  a  domestic  mis- 
sionary who  does  not  give  wings  to  these  silent  messengers 
of  salvation  as  he  passes  from  place  to  place  ?  Among  the 
400,000  Baptists  in  our  country,  is  there  one  who  does  not 
covet  the  privilege  of  aiding  the  Society,  by  subscription, 
or  purchase,  or  donation  ?  Never  was  there  a  greater  call 
upon  the  Society  for  vigorous  effort  than  the  present.  No 
where  could  an  equal  sum  be  appropriated  with  a  higher 
certainty  of  doing  good,  thirty,  sixty,  and  an  hundred  fold. 
Nearly  three  millions  of  our  country's  population  look  up 
to  us  for  instruction.  All  this  responsibleness  rests  upon  us 
as  Baptists.  Our  Tract  Society  is  a  mighty  agent  for 
enlightening,  purifying,  elevating,  and  blessing  this  immense 
mass  of  population.  By  receiving  a  regular  increase  of 
funds,  it  will  soon  be  speedily  relieved  from  embarrassment, 
and  be  enabled  to  go  forward  in  its  operations  with  renewed 
vigor  ;  it  will  penetrate  the  western  wilderness  ;  and  every 
where  in  its  broad  and  noiseless  track  the  word  of  the  Lord 
shall  have  free  course  and  be  glorified." 

New  instances  of  the  usefulness  of  the  Society's  Tracts 
were  furnished  this  year  by  Rev.  Win.  Laws,  Brn. 
Ilodges,  S.  Siegfried,  A.  Bingham,  L.  Fletcher,  C.  Sawyer, 


TENTH    ANNUAL   MEETING.  69 

and  others.  Among  their  fruits  was  the  conversion  to 
Baptist  sentiments  of  Rev.  D.  CAMERON,  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  a  useful  Missionary  among  the  Indians  at  Sault  de 
St.  Marie,  who  received  baptism,  with  three  of  his  converts 
at  the  same  time,  from  the  hands  of  Bro.  Bingham. 


29.  Tenth  Annual  Meeting. 

The  Tenth  Anniversary  of  the  Society  was  held  with  the 
Fifth  Baptist  Church,  in  Sansom  Street,  Philadelphia,  Jan. 
8,  1834,  Rev.  Wm.  T.  Brantly,  the  President,  in  the  chair. 
The  Annual  Report  of  the  Board,  and  the  Report  of  the 
Treasurer  were  read  and  accepted  for  publication,  being 
supported  by  interesting  addresses  from  brethren  R.  W. 
Cushman  and  N.  Colver  of  New  York.  The  officers  of  the 
last  year  were  re-elected.  The  only  changes  in  the  Board 
were  the  choice  of  Levi  Tucker  and  John  B.  Trevor,  in 
place  of  J.  Maylin  and  D.  Jones. 

The  Annual  Report  of  the  Board  of  Managers  opens 
with  an  elaborate  vindication  of  the  principles  on  which 
the  Society  had  been  established  and  conducted,  against 
those  on  the  one  hand  who  objected  to  its  denominational 
character,  and  those  on  the  other  who  would  restrict  its 
issues  to  denominational  works  alone. 

"Though  our  Society  has  been  for  several  years  in  suc- 
cessful operation,  and  during  those  years  has  received  tes- 
timonials of  decided  approbation  from  nearly  all  quarters, 
yet  there  are  still  those  of  our  brethren  in  several  places, 
who  cannot  so  appreciate  the  reasons  for  a  Baptist  Tract 
Society,  as  to  be  induced  to  unite  heartily  with  us.  For 
the  sake  of  such,  and  also  for  the  fuller  confirmation  of 
those  who  are  already  agreed  on  the  merits  of  the  subject, 
we  consider  it  incumbent  upon  us  to  place  before  you,  in 
the  commencement  of  this  Report,  some  considerations 


70  AMERICAN  BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

evincive  of  the  need  of  such  a  Society  to  the  building  up 
and  enlargement  of  our  portion  of  the  Lord's  Zion. 

"  First.  It  has  already  secured  the  general  favor  and 
patronage  of  the  denomination.  It  is  now  from  eight  to 
ten  years  since  its  claims  have  been  presented  to  the  notice 
of  our  brethren.  During  that  interval  its  character,  de- 
signs and  objects  have  been  fully  developed  by  its  history ; 
and,  consequently,  those  who  have  conferred  upon  it  their 
sanction  have  had  the  full  benefit  of  facts  in  making  up 
their  mind.  They  have  not  been  carried  along  on  the  cur- 
rent of  popular  opinion  ;  nor  have  they  been  impelled  by  a 
blind  partiality  to  sectional  interests ;  nor  have  they  been 
urged  on  by  the  authority  of  names,  in  arriving  at  the  con- 
clusion upon  which  they  rest ;  but  they  are  convinced  by 
their  own  experience  and  observation  ;  and  therefore  their 
approving  manifestations  are  of  no  small  account.  They 
are,  too,  the  large  majority  of  the  most  pious  and  enlight- 
ened of  our  denomination — those  who  take  an  active  part 
in  all  the  good  plans  of  Christian  benevolence,  and  who 
are  thoroughly  awake  to  all  the  calls  of  duty.  Is  the 
suffrage  of  such  a  majority  worth  nothing  in  settling  the 
question  respecting  the  expediency  and  necessity  of  the 
Baptist  General  Tract  Society  ?" 

Testimony  is  quoted  from  the  Christian  Watchman  of 
Boston,  from  the  Baptist  Conventions  of  New  York  and 
Vermont,  from  the  General  Association  of  Yirginia,  and 
also  from  a  great  "  Meeting  of  Western  Baptists"  recently 
held  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

These  are  cited  only  as  specimens  of  the  whole.  "  Simi- 
lar resolutions  and  recommendations  have  been  adopted  by 
all  those  State  Conventions  whose  proceedings  have  come 
under  our  knowledge,  whilst  individual  Associations  almost 
with  one  voice  have  uttered  approving  expressions. 

"We  feel  authorized,  then,  to  believe  that  the  Baptist 
General  Tract  Society  has  the  fixed  and  deliberate  appro- 


TENTH   ANNUAL   MEETING.  71 

bation  of  the  major  part  of  the  denomination  ;  and  that  the 
course  which  it  has  heretofore  pursued  in  publishing  Tracts, 
partly  on  subjects  peculiar  to  ourselves,  as  a  separate  body 
of  Christians ;  and  partly  on  general  subjects,  is  fully  and 
cordially  sustained. 

"2.  The  importance  of  the  Society  will  be  yet  more 
evident  when  we  compute  the  probable  value  of  its  influ- 
ence in  promoting  uniformity  of  opinion  and  sentiment 
throughout  the  whole  body  of  our  people.  In  our  view, 
the  existence  of  our  Society  is  requisite,  even  though  it 
should  send  forth  none  but  Tracts  on  general  subjects. 
For  the  views  and  sentiments  under  the  sanction  of  the  So- 
ciety have  this  advantage  from  that  sanction — they  are  more 
readily  and  generally  received.  A  Tract  may  be  respected 
and  read  on  account  of  its  own  claims  and  merits ;  but  it 
will  be  more  read  and  respected  when  those  claims  and 
merits  are  vouched  for  by  those  whose  judgment  and  opin- 
ion are  weighty  and  considerable ;  and  who  therefore  en- 
dorse the  instrument  for  the  purpose  of  augmenting  its 
credit.  And  by  how  much  the  more  the  circulation  of 
common  and  general  truth  is  aided  by  the  authority  under 
which  it  is  made  known,  by  so  much  the  more  is  real  good 
accomplished.  All  that  is  gained  in  this  way  is  so  much 
net  profit,  over  and  above  the  results  of  ordinary  operations. 
A  book,  the  merits  of  which  may  have  been  previously 
known,  when  conveyed  to  us  by  the  hand  of  one  we  love, 
and  stamped  with  the  imprint  of  his  signature  making  it 
ours,  acquires  from  this  very  circumstance  in  our  estima- 
tion a  sort  of  consecrated  character.  Is  it  too  much  to  be- 
lieve that  there  is  pervading  the  great  mass  of  our  people 
a  common  feeling  of  brotherhood  which  secures  for  Baptist 
Tracts  a  reception  not  to  be  accorded  to  those  under  other 
authority  ?  And  should  it  appear  that  our  selection  and 
adoption  of  Tracts  may  increase  the  facilities  for  its  ex- 
tension, we  may  reasonably  conclude  that  in  the  same  de- 


72  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

gree  harmony  of  feeling  and  uniformity  of  sentiment  will 
be  extended  and  fostered  among  our  readers.  We  ac- 
cordingly feel  justified  in  reiterating  the  idea  already  ad- 
vanced of  the  value  of  our  Society's  influence  in  rendering 
us  a  more  united  people. 

"  It  may  be  further  observed  that  we  should  find  but  a 
small  supply  of  doctrinal  Tracts  if  we  were  to  look  for  them 
out  of  our  own  series  of  publications.  The  American  Society 
being  composed  of  individuals  of  so  many  varying  creeds 
and  opinions,  does  not  adventure  the  publication  of  many 
things  having  a  doctrinal  complexion.  Every  matter  of 
this  sort,  to  pass  their  inspection,  must  be  so  pared  down, 
reduced  and  shaped,  as  to  suit  a  common  standard. — Our 
Society  is  not  placed  under  such  limitations  and  restrictions 
in  regard  to  doctrines.  We  find  it  not  incompatible  with 
our  constitution  to  issue  discourses  and  Tracts  which  savor 
well  of  the  doctrines  of  grace,  and  have  a  suitable  seasoning 
of  that  sort  of  wholesome  truth  which  should  be  infused 
into  every  religious  discussion. 

"  3.  And,  surely,  if  reasons  can  be  found  to  justify  our 
existence  as  a  separate  Society,  even  though  we  should 
publish  Tracts  on  general  subjects  and  on  no  others,  much 
more  will  our  claims  to  such  an  existence  be  defended  from 
all  exceptions,  if  respect  be  had  to  those  publications  which 
go  to  explain  and  vindicate  our  views  as  a  denomination. 

"  What  we  have  said  in  the  foregoing  paragraphs  may  be 
thought  by  some  unnecessary,  if  not  unseasonable.  But 
we  judge  otherwise ;  and  take  this  occasion  to  say,  that  if 
there  be  sufficient  reason  for  the  Baptist  General  Tract 
Society — then  it  should  have  more  ample,  more  uniform, 
and  more  general  support.  If  it  should  exist  at  all,  it 
should  exist  with  a  wider  range  of  influence,  with  a  more 
harmonious  and  efficient  ell'ort,  and  with  more  decided 
proofs  of  utility." 

Ten   new  Tracts,  containing  together  250  pages,  had 


TENTH  ANNUAL  MEETING.  73 

been  added  to  the  regular  series ;  making  the  whole  num- 
ber of  Tracts  135.  In  addition,  three  occasional  Tracts 
were  published. 

The  receipts  for  the  year,  were  $6,126.97;  of  which 
$1,850  were  from  donations.  The  debt  of  the  Society  had 
been  extinguished  by  the  payment  of  $1,550.50;  leaving 
$4,516.47,  for  defraying  the  current  expenses  of  the  year. 
The  number  of  Tracts  printed  was  235,Q.OO,  making  in  the 
whole  3,676,258  pages.  For  gratuitous  distribution  there 
were  sent  to  the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi,  150,000  pages  ; 
to  Virginia,  75,000;  to  Georgia,  5000;  Maryland,  1500; 
New  Hampshire,  6000 ;  Canada,  6000 ;  London,  3000  ; 
Pennsylvania,  35,000;  Africa,  10,000;  Burmah,  5000; 
Germany,  5000.  Of  the  German  Tracts  5000  pages  were 
distributed  in  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  and  North  Caro- 
lina, The  whole  number  of  pages  thus  gratuitously  dis- 
tributed, was  275,000  pages. — The  sales  at  the  Depository 
amounted  to  $1500. 

Most  of  the  time  of  the  General  Agent  had  been  spent 
in  Virginia,  in  visiting  and  arousing  the  churches  in  favor 
of  the  Tract  cause.  "Since  I  left  home,"  he  says,  "I  have 
traveled  3000  miles;  visited  84  churches;  corresponded 
with  164  others;  preached  96  times;  delivered  over  100 
public  addresses ;  formed  about  1 00  Auxiliary  Tract  Soci- 
eties; collected  $1150;  obtained  pledges  for  $490 ;  estab- 
lished three  Depositories;  and  distributed  upwards  of 
500,000  pages  of  Tracts."  Six  other  Agents  were  also 
under  appointment — S.  F.  Phoenix,  J.  A.  Phoenix,  N. 
Graham,  Rev.  J.  M.  Timmons,  Rev.  J.  Thomas,  and  Rev. 
S.  S.  Burdett. 

New  evidence  of  the  usefulness  of  the  Society's  Tracts 
was  received  from  Burmah,  from  Germany,  and  from 
various  sections  of  the  United  States. 

Six  new  Depositories  were  established  during  the  year  : 
at  Troy,  N.  Y. ;  at  Fredericksburg,  Va. ;  Lancaster  C. 
7 


74  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

H.,  Va. ;  at  Lewisburg,  Ya. ;  Cleveland,  Ohio;  and  at 
Surapterville,  S.  C. ;  making  the  whole  number  forty- 
three. 


30.  Eleventh  Annual  Meeting,  1835. 

The  Eleventh  Anniversary  of  the  Society  was  held  with 
the  First  Baptist  Church,  Philadelphia,  Jan.  7,  1835 ; 
Rev.  Wm.  T.  Brantly,  President,  in  the  chair.  The 
Annual  Reports  of  the  Board  and  of  the  Treasurer  were 
read  and  accepted.  In  the  choice  of  the  new  Board,  five 
brethren — Ashton,  Hansell,  Fletcher,  Webster  and  Van- 
dyke retired,  and  their  places  were  filled  by  the  election  of 
brethren  Wm.  E.  Garrett,  T.  B.  Sherburne,  George 
Swope,  Jacob  Reed,  and  Israel  E.  James. 

The  Annual  Report  mentions  the  death  of  brethren  J. 
Maylin,  N.  R.  Cobb,  F.  P.  Browning,  and  G.  C.  Shivers, 
among  the  warm  friends  of  the  Society.  Seven  new  Tracts, 
making  140  pages,  were  added,  six  of  them  in  the  regular 
series.  Of  the  Tract  Magazine,  22,200  copies  were  circu- 
lated, embracing  352,800  pages,  at  a  cost  of  $319.52 ;  and 
an  arrearage  due  from  subscribers  of  $555 ;  leaving  the 
Magazine  in  debt,  $5503.  Monthly  Tracts,  to  the  number 
of  2500  copies,  and  embracing  60,000  pages,  were  sent  to 
subscribers.  Tracts  printed,  248,312,  making  5,324,636, 
nearly  double  the  number  of  the  preceding  year.  The 
number  of  pages  issued  from  the  Depository,  4,378,382. 
The  gratuitous  issues  were  533,000  pages  ;  6000  of  which 
were  sent  to  Liberia,  and  the  rest  to  different  points  of 
the  United  States.  The  number  of  new  Auxiliaries  formed, 
was  159.  Three  Branch  Societies  were  organized ;  one 
at  Louisville,  Ky. ;  one  at  Cincinnati,  O. ;  and  one  at 
Concord,  N.  H.  Fourteen  new  Depositories,  were  estab- 
lished,— five  of  them  only  on  the  funds  of  the  Parent  Society. 

Receipts  of  the  Society,  $6,035.74;  including  $347.77, 


THE    BAPTIST   MANUAL.  75 

for  a  Tract  House ;  an  increase  over  the  preceding  year 
of  $256.54.  The  expenditures  were  $5,996.51.  Six  tra- 
veling agents  had  been  employed  for  limited  periods,  being 
equal  to  23  months'  labor — brethren  Phoenix,  Pounccy, 
Hatch,  Glover,  Lockwood  and  Briggs.  The  General 
Agent,  himself,  bro.  I.  M.  Allen,  had  traveled  over  10,000 
miles  in  the  promotion  of  the  Society's  interests  with  great 
success. 


31.  Tract  House  Fund. 

In  regard  to  the  Tract  House,  the  Report  says,  "Deem- 
ing it  necessary  to  make  further  arrangements  for  the  per- 
manent prosperity  of  the  Society,  and  feeling  the  need  of 
a  house  for  a  Depository  of  its  publications,  in  which  its 
property  may  be  safely  preserved,  and  its  business  carried 
on  with  more  regularity,  economy  and  system,  particularly 
in  the  printing  and  book-binding  departments,  the  Board 
decided  to  open  a  subscription  for  a  Fund  for  that  purpose, 
and  that  the  female  friends  of  the  Baptist  General  Tract 
Society  in  the  United  States  be  first  applied  to  for  this 
object."  The  $347.77  mentioned  above  were  the  first  fruits 
of  an  appeal  to  their  liberality,  made  by  a  Circular  Address 
this  year. 


32.  The  Baptist  Manual. 

A  bound  volume  of  select  Tracts  having  been  made  up, 
under  the  name  of  "  The  Baptist  Manual,"  it  was  deter- 
mined that  a  copy  of  it  should  be  placed  in  every  family 
that  would  receive  it  in  the  Yalley  of  the  Mississippi.  A 
fund  was  opened  for  this  purpose,  that  every  where  in  that 
vast  field  there  might  be  found  "  a  faithful  representative 
of  the  sentiments  of  the  denomination." 


76  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 


33.  New  Efforts  Abroad.     Burmah. 

The  need  of  increasing  exertion  in  behalf  of  the  Tract 
cause,  both  at  home  and  abroad,  is  strongly  urged  in  the 
Annual  Report.  The  following  memorable  language  of 
Mrs.  Wade,  on  the  want  of  more  Burmese  Tracts  for  dis- 
tribution, is  quoted  in  proof.  In  addressing  the  ladies  of 
Philadelphia,  she  said,  "0,  my  dear  sisters,  in  all  I  have 
suffered  in  leaving  my  friends  and  my  own  loved  country ; 
in  all  the  dangers  and  trials  I  have  experienced  among  the 
barbarous,  degraded  heathen  ;  nothing  has  wrung  my  heart 
with  such  bitter  anguish,  as  to  be  obliged  to  deny  even  a 
single  leaf  containing  the  gospel  tidings,  to  a  perishing 
fellow  creature,  who  had  heard  that  there  is  a  way  of  salva- 
tion, and  had  come  to  inquire  for  it.  And  can  you  not 
willingly  lay  aside  the  superfluities  and  elegancies  of  life, 
that  you  may  be  enabled  to  give  bountifully  for  the  pur- 
pose of  sending  the  bread  of  life  to  those  famishing  souls. 
How  shall  we  meet  them  at  the  bar  of  God,  if  we  have  not 
used  every  effort  in  our  power  to  give  them  His  word  ?" 

It  is  stated  as  a  fact  in  the  Burmese  Mission  that  natives 
have  been  found  by  the  missionaries,  in  their  tours  through 
the  country,  giving  good  evidence  of  piety,  who  had  never 
heard  a  living  teacher,  but  had  become  acquainted  with 
the  Saviour  by  means  of  a  Tract. 


34.  Germany.     First  Baptist  Church  at  Hamburg, 

The  attention  of  the  Board  had  been  directed  in  the 
providence  of  God  to  France  and  Germany.  In  the  latter 
country  the  demand  for  Tracts  had  become  urgent,  and  the 
facilities  for  their  circulation  multiplied  by  the  baptism  of  Mr. 
Oncken  and  six  others,  at  Hamburg,  in  April  last,  (1834,) 


GERMANY.  ft 

and  their  constitution  into  a  Baptist  Church  which  called 
him  to  be  its  pastor.  In  a  letter  from  him  of  September 
30th,  he  says,  "The  English  language  is  now  much  studied, 
so  that  I  can  always  make  good  use  of  books  and  Tracts 
in  that  language.  As  the  subject  of  baptism  has  been, 
since  the  recent  occurrence  at  Hamburg,  more  a  point  of 
investigation,  and  as  that  holy  ordinance  is  entirely  neg- 
lected, and  instead  of  it,  a  mere  human  invention  has 
taken  its  place,  I  would  urge  the  Directors  of  the  B.  G. 
Tract  Society,  very  warmly,  to  take  into  early  considera- 
tion the  importance  of  having  another  Tract  on  that  sub- 
ject translated  into  German  and  published  as  early  as 
possible.  The  favorable  opportunities  which  now  present 
themselves,  ought  not  to  be  allowed  to  pass  unimproved ; 
— our  lives  are  short  and  uncertain,  and  the  instruments 
God  has  been  pleased  to  raise  up  in  defence  of  the  truth, 
may  soon  be  called  hence ;  let  us  therefore  work  while  it 
is  called  to  day.  The  seed  we  sow  cannot  be  lost ;  and  I 
verily  believe  our  little  messengers  and  witnesses  for  Christ 
and  his  blessed  ordinances,  will  be  instrumental  in  effecting 
a  great  change  in  this  country.  T  pray  that  the  great 
Head  of  the  Church  may  direct  my  beloved  brethren  in 
America,  and  my  unworthy  self,  to  adopt  such  measures  as 
He  will  own  and  bless  in  the  extension  of  pure  and  unde- 
filed  religion." 

This  letter  of  Mr.  Oncken  led  to  the  translation  of  Pen- 
gilly's  Scripture  Guide,  and  the  Memoir  of  Mrs.  Judson, 
and  their  publication  in  German,  at  the  expense  of  Chris- 
tians in  this  country,  by  the  invitation  of  this  Society. 
The  results  have  justified  the  outlay.  Twenty-two  years 
have  now  passed  since  the  first  baptism  in  Hamburg,  by  Prof. 
Sears,  referred  to  above.  The  result  is  before  us.  Ac- 
cording-to  the  faith  of  Bro.  Oncken,  it  has  been  unto  him. 
"Our  little  messengers"  have  been  ''instrumental  in  effect- 
ing a  great  change"  in  Germany — a  change  glorious  to 
7* 


78  AMERICAN  BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

God  and  to  Truth — a  change  fraught  with  the  salvation  of 
thousands  already,  and  of  tens  of  thousands  yet  unborn. 

The  Report  of  the  Board  closes  with  fresh  instances  of 
usefulness  in  this  country,  as  encouragement  to  increased 
exertion,  by  the  friends  of  the  Society. 


35.  Twelfth  Annual  Meeting,  1836. 

The  Twelfth  Annual  Meeting  was  held  on  Wednesday 
evening,  Jan.  6,  1836,  in  the  Spruce  Street  Baptist  Meeting 
House,  Philadelphia.  The  President,  Rev.  W.  T.  Brantly, 
in  the  chair.  The  Annual  Report  of  the  Board  was  read 
by  Mr.  ALLEN,  the  General  Agent.  Addresses  were  de- 
livered by  President  Babcock,  of  Waterville,  Me.  ;  Prof. 
Armstrong,  of  Wake  Forest  Institution,  N.  C. ;  and  Rev. 
S.  P.  Hill,  of  Baltimore,  in  connection  with  resolutions 
offered. 

On  motion  of  Israel  E.  James,  Esq.,  the  third  article 
of  the  Constitution  was  altered,  so  as  to  extend  the  number 
of  Managers  from  fifteen  to  twenty-one.  Rev.  A.  D. 
Gillette  was  chosen  in  place  of  Rev.  Levi  Tucker,  and 
Rev.  J.  J.  Woolsey  in  place  of  George  Swope.  The 
additional  six  members  were  A.  D.  Gillette,  Joseph  Taylor, 
John  C.  Davis,  James  M.  Linnard,  and  Dr.  Wilson 
Jewell. 

The  Report  states  that  "the  number  of  Tracts  having 
become  so  considerable,  it  is  deemed  expedient  to  aim  at 
enlarging  their  circulation  rather  than  add  to  the  Society's 
stock."  Only  six  new  ones  were  therefore  added,  increasing 
the  series  to  148.  Three  thousand  copies  of  the  Baptist 
Manual  had  been  printed,  in  accordance  with  the  Society's 
resolution  last  year  to  put  a  bound  volume  of  its  publica- 
tions in  every  accessible  family  in  the  States  of  Tennessee, 
Kentucky,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois  and  Mississippi,  and  the 


TWELFTH   ANNUAL   MEETING.  79 

work  of  distribution  auspiciously  begun.  Twenty  thousand 
copies  of  the  Tract  Magazine  were  published,  at  an  ex- 
pense of  $280  ;  the  receipts  falling  short  of  $52.81,  leaving 
the  arrearages  due  $700.  Tracts  printed  during  the  year 
268,730,  making  7,080,000  pages.  Issued  from  the  De- 
pository, 5,992,206  pages;  leaving  on  hand,  2,837,036. 
Free  grants  to  the  value  of  $1,196.21  had  been  distributed 
through  the  States,  besides  many  in  South  America, 
Africa,  and  other  places. 

A  letter  from  Dr.  Judson,  at  Maulmain,  says,  "American 
Tracts  are  in  such  demand  here,  that  I  should  distribute 
the  whole  package  in  a  few  days  if  I  gave  them  freely." 
Besides  this  grant  of  their  own  Tracts,  the  Board  paid 
over  $418,  received  for  printing  others  in  the  Burman 
language. 

The  sura  of  $175.75  had  been  received  for  Tracts  in 
Germany,  in  answer  to  Bro.  Oncken's  appeal ;  $500  was 
deemed"  not  too  much  for  the  object.  In  a  recent  letter  he 
says,  "  Much  I  could  well  employ,  but  the  least  assistance 
will  be  duly  appreciated.  My  own  resources  are  dried  up, 
having  published  two  editions  of  a  Tract  of  9000  copies — 
5000  copies  of  the  Epistle  to  the  Romans,  with  Luther's 
Preface — 3000  copies  of  a  work  of  48  pages  against  the 
Church  Establishments,  and  2000  copies  of  the  '  Covenant 
of  Grace.'  I  shall  be  happy  to  receive  what  may  be  in 
your  hands  for  German  Tracts  as  early  as  possible.  My 
work  is  still  going  on  well — the  Lord  is  still  gracious  to 
us.  Four  converts  were  added  to  our  little  community 
during  the  summer,  and  there  are  prospects  of  future  use- 
fulness.* I  delight  in  my  work,  and  find  the  service  of  my 

*  In  another  letter  of  this  period,  Mr.  Oncken  makes  the  following 
remark :  "  The  Scriptural  observance  of  baptism  cuts  deeper  into  the 
corrupt  state  of  the  unscriptural  church  on  the  Continent,  than  all  the 
truth  which  can  be  brought  to  bear  against  it,  put  together;  and  hence 
it  is  when  the  child  of  God  dares  follow  his  Lord  in  this  holy  ordinance, 


80  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

God  infinitely  more  pleasant  than  the  service  of  the  god 
of  this  world." 


36.  The  Valley  Fund,  &c. 

On  the  subscription  proposed  by  the  Board,  called  the 
Yalley  Fund,  of  $1000  for  five  years,  for  circulating  Tracts 
in  the  great  "West,"  there  had  been  paid  in  $662.50  ;  but 
the  numbers  of  subscribers  was  already  252 — equivalent  to 
$1260,  if  all  paid.  Number  of  new  Auxiliaries,  158.  The 
Young  Ladies'  Society  of  Patterson,  N.  J.,  had  dis- 
tinguished themselves  by  obtaining  350  subscribers,  and 
distributing  in  and  around  the  town  no  less  than  60,000 
pages  of  Tracts.  The  Philadelphia  Female  Union  Tract 
Society,  formed  in  March,  had  paid  over  $219.75,  for  the 
purposes  of  the  Society — one  half  to  be  appropriated  to 
the  Mississippi  Yalley.  The  students  of  the  Haddington 
and  Burlington  Institutions  had  formed  Auxiliary  Socie- 
ties ;  and  the  latter  had  adopted  the  plan  of  monthly  dis- 
tribution. Auxiliaries  in  Worcester  and  Boston,  Mass., 
had  been  active  in  co-operation  ;  but  many  others  had  be- 
come remiss.  Of  the  fifty-three  Depositories,  twenty-eight 
were  owned  by  the  Parent  Society,  besides  the  General 
Depository  in  Philadelphia ;  eight  by  Branch  Societies ; 
seven  by  Auxiliaries  ;  4  by  Associations  ;  2  by  Theological 
Institutions ;  and  4  by  individuals.  For  want  of  prompt 
payments  in  many  places  the  Board  were  crippled  and  the 
Society  embarrassed  in  its  operations.  Rev.  Otis  Briggs, 
Stephen  Jones,  Samuel  F.  Pho3nix,  Samuel  Glover,  James 
Seymour,  James  R.  Haggard,  and  Edmund  Goodnough, 

that  he  cuts  asunder  the  main  spring  of  that  corrupt  system,  which  for 
centuries  has  deluded  multitudes,  and  destroyed  them  forever,  under  the 
specious  name  of  Christianity. — My  baptism  is  such  a  transgression 
against  the  prevailing  practice  of  the  world,  and  many  even  of  God's 
children,  that  both  make  me  feel  thoir  coldness  and  indignation." 


THIRTEENTH  ANNUAL  MEETING.  81 

were  employed  as  Agents  for  a  time  in  different  districts — 
equal  to  the  steady  service  of  one  man  for  over  two  years, 
whose  collections  in  cash  and  pledges  amounted  to  $2,585.05. 
Voluntary  agencies,  also,  had  been  performed  by  Rev.  J. 
M.  Peck,  E.  Loomis,  L.  Worly,  D.  F.  Newton,  W.  R. 
Hinton,  J.  M.  Timmons,  S.  S.  Burdett,  Holcombe,  Heard, 
Mallary,  Crosby,  J.  S.  Eaton,  and  others,  particularly  C. 
P.  Jacobs,  of  Patterson,  N.  J.  Total  receipts  for  the  year 
$8000.34,  being  an  increase  upon  any  preceding  year  of 
nearly  $2000 — besides  $334.55  for  the  contemplated  Tract 
House. 

"The  history  of  the  year  satisfies  the  Board  that  their 
labors  have  not  been  in  vain  in  the  Lord." 


37.  Thirteenth  Annual  Meeting,     1837. 

The  Thirteenth  Annual  Meeting  was  held  on  Wednesday 
evening,  Jan.  4,  183T,  at  the  Baptist  Meeting  House,  San- 
som  Street,  Philadelphia:  the  -President,  Rev.  Wm.  T. 
Brantly,  in  the  chair.  The  Report  of  the  Board  was  read, 
followed  by  an  abstract  of  the  Treasurer's  Report,  with 
resolutions  and  addresses  from  Wm.  T.  Brantly,  Jr.,  Rev. 
J.  Dowling,  of  New  York,  and  others.  The  resolution 
moved  and  sustained  by  Mr.  Dowling  was  in  these  terms  : 
"  Besolved,  that  while  we  regard  the  Foreign  and  Home 
Missionary  Societies  of  our  denomination  as  eminently 
entitled  to  the  confidence  and  the  co-operation  of  the 
churches,  we  consider  the  Tract  Society  as  equally  deserving 
the  support  of  the  denomination,  because  it  is  a  powerful 
auxiliary  of,  and  an  efficient  co-worker  with  both  the 
former."  The  collection  taken  up  at  the  close  amounted  to 
almost  $300.  The  new  Board  stood  thus:  Wm.  T. 
Brantly,  President;  Joseph  H.  Kennard,  Vice  President; 
I.  M.  Allen,  General  Agent;  William  W.  Keen,  Trea- 


82  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

surer;  Wm.  Ford,  Secretary ;  R.  W.  Cushman,  Wm.  H. 
Richards,  John  Davis,  John  Mulford,  Jr.,  Joseph  Reynolds, 
R.  Babcock,  Jr.,  Isaac  Reed,  D.  H.  Hinman,  A.  D.  Gil- 
lette, John  B.  Trevor,  Wm.  E.  Garret,  Thos.  P.  Sher- 
borne,  J.  J.  Woolsey,  Jacob  Reed,  S.  Huggins,  John 
Ellis,  Joseph  Sheppard,  John  C.  Davis,  Win.  S.  Hansell, 
Wm.  Vandyke,  and  John  Jones,  Directors. 


38.  The  Tract  Enterprise. 

The  Report  of  the  Board,  drawn  up  and  read  by  Dr. 
Brantly,  opens  with  some  eloquent  observations  on  the  na- 
ture and  value  of  the  Tract  Enterprise,  from  which  we  cull 
the  following  memorable  words.  "  As  it  is  easy  when  any 
given  space  is  filled  with  large  materials,  to  introduce  many 
smaller  ones  without  increasing  the  visible  bulk,  so  the  in- 
troduction of  such  means  of  usefulness  as  your  Society  em- 
ploys, will  strengthen  and  brace  the  more  important  sys- 
tems of  well-doing,  without  rendering  them  unwieldy  or 
complex.  They  help  to  fill  up  the  interstices  in  more 
stated  and  weighty  ministrations,  and  thus  improve  that 
wise  and  prudential  economy  by  which  members  of  the 
Lord's  household  occupy  their  talents  until  he  shall  come 
to  reckon  with  them. 

"  To  what  extent  the  spiritual  welfare  of  our  denomina- 
tion has  been  promoted  by  the  circulation  of  Tracts,  within 
the  last  ten  years,  it  is  not  possible  to  say.  But  are  we 
saying  too  much,  when  we  proclaim  with  confidence,  that  a 
large  number  of  the  most  interesting  conversions  in  the 
most  prosperous  churches,  have  been  effected  by  this  hum- 
ble means.  Who  can  tell  how  many  wanderers  from  the 
ways  of  God,  have  been  thereby  reclaimed,  and  made 
active  in  establishing  the  faith  which  they  once  labored  to 
subvert  ?  Who  can  estimate  the  amount  of  consolation 


THE   TRACT   ENTERPRISE.  83 

which  has  been  thereby  placed  within  the  reach  of  the 
afflicted  and  the  destitute  ?  How  many  wavering  and  de- 
jected souls  have  been  confirmed  and  cheered  by  the  sea- 
sonable instructions  and  admonitions  thereby  communi- 
cated? How  many  dying  saints  have  breathed  out  their 
last  audible  whispers  in  sentiments  and  language  suggested 
by  your  Tracts  ? 

"  Is  it  too  much  to  believe  that  your  winged  heralds, 
flying  abroad  in  every  direction,  have  conduced  much 
toward  unity  of  feeling  and  sentiment  among  the  brethren  ? 
That  they  have  given  an  impulse  to  a  benevolent  effort  ? 
That  they  have  aided  in  the  suppression  of  error,  and  in 
the  advancement  of  truth  ?  And  that  they  have  con- 
tributed no  mean  quota  towards  the  general  improvement 
of  the  denomination  in  knowledge  and  spirituality  ? 

"We  are  not  without  apprehension  that  the  religious 
and  moral  influence  of  the  department  of  duty  now  before 
us,  is  not  rightly  and  adequately  rated.  We  would  re- 
spectfully ask  those  brethren  who  should  feel  themselves 
charged  with  the  work  of  circulation  and  distribution, 
whether  they  can  clear  their  consciences  in  thus  indirectly 
stifling  the  voice  of  truth,  and  frustrating  the  objects  of 
pious  benevolence.  The  Tract  has  no  power  of  local 
motion — of  self-diffusion.  It  needs  the  care,  and  the  tongues, 
and  the  hands  of  those  who  love  the  cause  for  its  own 
sake,  to  render  it  effective  and  useful*.  May  we  solicit  in 
its  behalf  such  aids  ;  and  may  we  kindly,  but  frankly,  ex- 
postulate with  those  whose  supineness  is  retarding  and 
nullifying  one  of  the  most  important  and  useful  methods 
of  Christian  charity  ? 

"The  publications  of  the  Society  have  now  attained 
such  numbers  and  varieties  as  to  answer  almost  every  de- 
mand. Doctrinal  subjects,  discussions  on  experimental 
religion,  practical  treatises,  biographical  sketches,  mission- 
ary topics,  and  concise  arguments  in  vindication  of  our 


84  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

distinguishing  views  as  one  body  of  Christians,  with  many 
subordinate  articles,  are  now  to  be  found  in  the  series.  To 
give  them  then  a  tongue,  will  surely  be  the  part  of  wisdom. 
Let  them  speak,  not  only  in  whispers,  but  in  loud  and 
energetic  tones.  Let  them  lift  up  their  voice  like  a 
trumpet. 

"  There  is  one  class  of  your  Tracts  to  which  we  would 
ask  special  attention.  We  mean  those  in  which  are  stated 
our  reasons  for  declining  communion  at  the  Lord's  table 
with  our  Pedobaptist  brethren.  There  is  no  point  at 
which,  as  a  denomination,  we  are  more  constantly  and 
boldly  pressed.  Our  baptismal  views  are  impregnable ;  but 
on  the  subject  of  communion  unmixed,  it  seems  to  be 
thought  there  is  a  weak  side,  through  which  an  irruption 
may  be  made,  and  a  successful  attack  carried  on  against 
our  strong  point  of  baptism.  Shall  we  therefore  retire 
from  the  defence  of  that  part,  which,  though  as  strong  as 
the  other,  yet  seems  to  be  more  speciously  assailable 
Many  of  the  strongest  men  amongst  our  English  brethreL 
have  not  only  withdrawn  from  the  defence,  but  have  joined 
the  assailants,  and  in  our  view  have  thus  aided  to  open  a 
passage  to  spoil  and  ravage.  Of  the  final  results  of  their 
course,  we  pretend  not  to  express  any  hasty  predictions, 
nor  to  utter  any  bitter  solicitudes.  The  Lord  knoweth 
them  that  are  his,  and  will  order  his  providences  towards 
them  according  to  his  own  faithfulness  and  wisdom.  To 
us  the  course  of  duty  is  manifest.  Break  down  our  strict 
communion  in  this  country,  and  you  break  down  our 
churches.  Communion  is  a  church  act,  and  the  church  is 
composed  of  baptized  believers.  We  deny  not  that  the 
Lord  may  have  churches  of  unbaptized  believers.  He  has 
not  so  taught  us. 

"  Your  Managers  have  endeavored  to  direct  their  labors 
by  the  following  maxims: — A  prudent  economy  of  their 
means — exactness  in  the  calculation  of  small  items — 


THE   TRACT   ENTERPRISE.  85 

promptness  in  answering  the  calls  of  distant  friends  and 
correspondents — and  an  anxious  care  to  accomplish  all  the 
good  of  which  the  resources  at  their  command  were  capa- 
ble. If  in  any  case  there  has  been  a  departure  from  these 
principles,  it  was  an  error  of  judgment  and  not  of  will. — 
The  necessary  machinery  of  the  Institution  must  consume 
a  proportionate  part  of  the  money  contributed  for  its  sup- 
port. And  since  the  Tract  enterprise  very  much  resembles 
the  business  of  book-making,  in  which,  after  the  types  are 
set  and  the  press  in  operation,  copies  may  be  multiplied 
with  much  less  than  the  original  cost,  we  would  suggest  that 
the  present  is  a  favorable  crisis  for  increased  donations 
and  contributions.  By  the  same  mechanical  arrangements 
which  enable  us  to  do  the  present  business  of  the  Deposi- 
tory, we  might  accomplish,  without  any  material  increase 
of  expense  in  that  department,  twice  the  amount  of  actual 
good." 

During  the  year  eight  new  Tracts  were  published,  making, 
with  the  covers,  128  pages.  Total  number  of  stereotyped 
pages  belonging  to  the  Society,  2830 ;  not  stereotyped, 
1207  ;  in  all  4037  pages.  Six  volumes  of  300  pages  each, 
and  twelve  half-volumes  of  Tracts  had  been  bound  :  the 
seventh  volume  was  nearly  finished.  A  Monthly  Paper 
had  taken  the  place  of  the  Tract  Magazine,  of  which  1800 
copies  were  issued  monthly  at  a  cost  of  $313.60,  and  return 
of  $159.21.  Of  the  Triennial  Register  for  1836,  prepared 
by  Mr.  Allen,  2500  copies  were  printed,  at  a  cost  of  $1382. 26 ; 
a  return  of  $825,  leaving  the  Register  in  debt  $557.26.  New 
stereotype  plates  of  Pengilly's  Scripture  Guide,  from  the 
ninth  English  edition,  were  in  preparation. 

The  number  of  Tracts  printed,  279,472,  embracing 
5,169,800  pages;  number  issued  from  the  Depository, 
4,808,200 ;  leaving  more  than  3,000,000  pages  on  hand. 
The  free  grants  were  distributed  as  follows  : — Mississippi 
Yalley,  665,416  pages ;  Burmah,  32,340 ;  Germany,  37,140 ; 


86  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

Africa,  18,750;  Nova  Scotia,  48,046;  Jamaica,  26,634; 
American  Indians,  9000;  Georgia,  72,230;  South  Caro- 
lina, 1494;  North  Carolina,  117,516;  Virginia,  22,020; 
Delaware,  17,776;  Pennsylvania,  65,454;  New  Jersey, 
22,860;  New  York,  10,424;  other  places,  108,960:  the 
total  value  of  these  gratuities  was  $858.27.  Application 
had  also  been  made  for  a  free  grant  to  Canada.  The  Ger- 
man Fund  had  risen  to  $783.44,  including  the  receipts  of 
the  preceding  year  ;  the  Burman  Fund  to  $184.35.  Two 
editions  of  the  Baptist  Manual  had  been  issued ;  it  had 
met  everywhere  a  welcome  of  warm  approval. 

On  the  Valley  Fund,  $1120  had  been  received;  making 
in  all  $1782.50.  This  success  led  the  Board  to  enlarge  the 
plan  to  meet  more  adequately  the  magnitude  of  the  field  ; 
and  without  changing  the  principle,  but  only  seeking  to 
double  the  number  of  subscribers  engaging  to  pay  $5  cash 
for  five  years ;  it  was  henceforth  called  the  Ten  Thousand 
Dollar  Plan.  In  smaller  sums,  $285.89  had  been  received 
for  the  same  noble  enterprise. 

The  total  receipts  for  the  year  ending  Jan.  3,  1837,  were 
$9215,  an  increase  of  $1215.39  beyond  any  preceding 
year.  The  total  amount  of  donations  was  $3990.78.  "It 
will  be  perceived,"  says  Dr.  Brantly,  "  that  the  donations 
to  the  objects  of  the  Society  are  of  no  great  amount.  The 
legacy  of  $500  from  the  late  brother  Abner  Davis,  of 
Georgia,  was  indeed  a  most  seasonable  and  valuable  con- 
tribution to  our  resources — and  another  sum  of  the  same 
magnitude,  expected  soon  to  be  paid  from  the  estate  of  our 
late  worthy  brother  Wm.  E.  Ashton,  affords  us  some  encour- 
agement for  the  time  to  come.  Much  room  for  similar 
acts  of  munificence  still  remain.  Could  the  thousands  and 
tens  of  thousands  of  our  church  members,  both  male  and 
female,  throughout  the  whole  country,  find  a  more  useful 
way  of  disposing  of  some  of  their  superfluous  treasure,  than 
by  forwarding  it  without  solicitation  to  our  General  Agent  ? 


FOURTEENTH   ANNUAL   MEETING.  87 

Your  five  dollars,  and  ten  dollars,  and  twenty  dollars,  and 
fifties,  and  hundreds,  as  the  Lord  has  prospered  you,  might 
be  turned  to  most  important  account  in  this  way.  It  is 
certain  that  the  distributors  of  Tracts  themselves  are  not 
able  to  calculate  their  moral  momentum  on  the  work  of 
pious  beneficence.  One  thing  we  may  assuredly  know  : — 
they  are  not  lost.  Their  echoes  are  heard  in  the  experience 
of  redeemed  sinners ;  their  holy  savor  is  perceived  in  the 
improved  lives  of  individual  Christians ;  their  harmony  is 
heard  in  all  the  concerts  of  prayer  in  which  they  that  love 
Jerusalem  seek  her  prosperity." 


39.  Fourteenth  Annual  Meeting,  1838. 

The  Fourteenth  Anniversary  of  the  Society  was  held  in 
the  Oliver  Street  Baptist  Church,  New  York,  April  24, 
1838.  Rev.  Dr.  Chapin,  President  of  Columbian  College, 
Washington,  was  called  to  the  chair.  The  Animal  Report 
of  the  Board  was  read  by  the  General  Agent,  Rev.  I.  M. 
Allen,  and  was  listened  to  by  a  large  assembly  with  deep 
and  gratified  attention.  Its  acceptation  was  moved,  and 
ably  sustained,  by  Rev.  Wm.  B.  Johnson,  D.D.,  of  South 
Carolina,  and  Rev.  Alfred  Bennett  of  New  York. 

Mr.  Bennett,  in  alluding  to  the  financial  pressure  of  the 
times,  said,  with  his  usual  good  sense  and  warmth  of  heart, 
"  The  friends  of  benevolent  objects  must  feel  that  economy 
should  begin  in  their  own  homes,  not  at  the  house  of  God. 
In  the  language  of  a  good  sister  with  whom  he  met,  they 
must  '  resolve  to  wear  their  old  cloaks  another  year,  and 
give  the  cost  of  a  new  one  to  the  Lord's  treasury.' " 

This  last  hint  was  not  lost.  In  the  collection  which 
followed,  amounting  to  $263,  was  a  pledge  in  these  words : 

" has  worn  the  old  cloak  another  winter, 

and  doubles  his  subscription,  $10." 


88  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

The  Annual  Report  of  the  Board  opens  with  a  reference 
to  the  change  of  the  time  of  the  anniversary  from  January 
to  April,  in  order  to  bring  it  into  a  more  favorable  season 
of  the  year,  and  connect  it  with  the  anniversaries  of  "other 
kindred  institutions  of  benevolence  in  the  denomination. 
In  consequence  of  this  change,  the  Report  embraces  a 
period  of  fifteen  months,  a  period  of  great  difficulty  and 
commercial  distress,  through  which  they  had  been  carried 
by  the  smiles  of  Providence,  prudent  management,  and  the 
timely  liberality  of  friends  of  the  cause. 

Only  three  new  publications  were  added  to  the  Tract 
series — the  new  and  enlarged  edition  of  Pengilly's  Scrip- 
ture Guide,  and  two  premium  Tracts  on  the  Injurious  In- 
fluences of  Theatrical  Amusements,  by  Rev.  S.  P.  Hill 
and  Rev.  Dr.  Plumer.  One  of  the  two  premium  Tracts 
of  the  preceding  year,  on  The  Peace- Speaking  Blood  of 
Christ,  had  been  translated,  by  the  Missionary  who  had 
offered  the  premium,  into  the  Chinese  language  for  circu- 
lation in  that  vast  empire. 


40.  A  Proposition  Urged. 

A  proposition  was  made,  and  strongly  supported  in  the 
New  York  Baptist  Register,  to  put  a  copy  of  Pengilly  in 
every  accessible  family  in  the  United  States.  The  fol- 
lowing reasons  were  urged :  1.  The  duty  devolving  upon 
us  to  speak  the  whole  truth.  2.  The  weighty  responsibili- 
ties we  are  under  as  a  denomination  with  reference  to  the 
Bible.  3.  The  divine  promise  concerning  the  triumph  of 
truth.  4.  The  ease  with  which  it  might  be  accomplished. 
"I  would  be  very  willing,"  says  the  writer,  "to  undertake 
for  the  supply  of  this  town.  I  am  sure  the  Baptists  in  it 
would  be  willing  to  supply  the  funds."  The  Editor,  Mr. 
Beebe,  remarks :  "  Our  brethren  will  answer  with  us  that 


A   PROPOSITION   URGED.  89 

the  above  proposition  is  by  no  means  visionary,  but  with 
proper  energy,  both  practicable  and  desirable  to  be  carried 
into  execution.  Baptism  has  its  place,  and  an  important 
place ;  and  it  cannot  be  passed  by  indifferently,  without 
casting  contempt  on  the  great  Lawgiver."  Correspondents 
in  Indiana  and  South  Carolina,  speaking  for  the  South  and 
West,  echoed  the  same  opinion.  One  of  them  adds,  "  I 
ordered  a  hundred,  to  supply  all  my  Methodist  friends  with 
one." 

Fifteen  hundred  copies  of  the  Baptist  Manual  were 
printed,  and  most  of  them  sold  or  distributed  during  the 
year.  A  purchaser  in  Virginia  observed  afterwards,  "that 
he  would  not  take  $5  for  it,  if  he  could  not  get  another  in 
its  place."  President  Manly,,  of  Alabama,  wrote,  "  The 
Baptist  Manual,  as  a  book  of  reference,  and  for  the  pur- 
pose of  lending  to  inquirers,  should  be  possessed  by  every 
member  of  our  churches."  The  Editor  of  the  Cross  and 
Journal,  Ohio,  advises :  "  Let  each  church  undertake  to 
supply  each  of  its  members  with  a  copy  of  the  Manual." 

The  number  of  Tracts  printed  for  the  year,  was  121,616, 
making  2,995,620  pages.  Pages  issued  from  the  Deposi- 
tory, 3,584,434;  leaving  2,609,628  pages  on  hand.  These 
Tracts  "are  deserving  of  far  more  attention  from  the 
denomination  than  they  seem  to  have  received.  In  in- 
trinsic value  they  are  equal  to  the  first  productions  of  any 
age,  as  may  easily  be  demonstrated ;  the  best  writers  of 
nearly  every  age  have  written  them.  And  in  the  denomi- 
nation they  are  invaluable,  because  they  publish  what  no 
other  Tract  Society  will  publish  for  us,  valuable  documents 
on  our  denominational  peculiarities."  In  their  wide  spread 
circulation,  accompanied,  as  they  are,  by  the  prayers  of 
thousands,  these  messengers  of  mercy  exert  a  beneficial 
influence  upon  the  churches,  silent  and  refreshing  as  the 
dew  upon  the  tender  grass.  New  instances  of  their  efficacy, 
under  God,  in  the  conversion  of  sinners,  are  presented  in 
8* 


90  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

the  Report.     The  free  grants  for  the  year  amounted  to 

$98f.82. 


41.  Baptist  Eecord.     Triennial  Register. 

The  Baptist  Record  had  been  changed  from  a  monthly 
to  a  semi-monthly  paper,  with  cheering  testimonies  of  its 
acceptance  and  success.  Without  diminishing  the  monthly 
amount  of  matter  directly  relating  to  the  Tract  cause,  it  is 
proposed  to  make  it  the  vehicle  of  the  most  important  in- 
formation respecting  the  Baptist  churches  throughout  the 
world ;  for  which  purpose  it  has  many  central  facilities. 

The  Triennial  Register,  by  means  of  the  payments  of 
the  past  year,  had  been  redeemed  from  debt ;  but  without 
encouragement  to  undertake  another. 


42.  Work  at  Home  and  Abroad. 

The  amount  credited  to  the  Valley  Fund,  on  the  Ten 
Thousand  Dollar  Plan,  from  the  commencement  in  April, 
1835,  now  amounted  to  $2,788.25 ;  the  amount  distributed, 
including  expenses,  to  $1,611,06.  A  brother  in  Arkansas, 
writes :  "I  cannot  find  language  to  express  the  thankful- 
ness which  I  feel  for  so  valuable  a  treasure,  and  the  salu- 
tary effects  which  they  have  wrought  among  the  Baptists 
here. — Since  the  arrival  of  the  box  of  Tracts  I  have  been 
riding,  preaching,  and  distributing  them.  I  have  visited 
the  churches  and  the  respective  neighborhoods  in  the 
Association.  Uniformity  is  effected  among  the  Baptists 
of  this  Association ;  the  Missionary  cause  is  warmly 
espoused,  and  all  move  on  harmoniously.  I  have  dis- 
tributed all,  and  -could  have  distributed  many  more.  I 
am  highly  pleased  with  the  information  you  gave  me  in 
your  last,  of  sending  on  another  box  of  Tracts.  They  will 


WORK  AT  HOME  AND  ABROAD.  91 

be  cordially  received,  and  all  dispatch  made  in  distributing 
them."  Similar  acknowledgments  and  testimony  were  re- 
ceived from  Tennessee,  Illinois,  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Ken- 
tucky. Antinomian  and  anti-mission  errors,  of  which  there 
had  been  a  prolific  crop,  were  eradicated,  and  truth  and 
righteousness  resumed  their  reign  where  all  had  been  over- 
spread with  darkness  and  death. 

The  work  in  Germany  under  Bro.  Oncken,  is  advancing 
with  a  most  delightful  increase.  In  August  he  writes : 
"  Our  Tract  operations  are  in  a  state  of  great  activity,  and 
our  fountain  must  soon  cease  to  flow,  if  we  do  not  re- 
ceive more  extensive  assistance.  We  have  distributed, 
since  the  formation  of  our  Society,  in  September,  1836, 
between  90,000  and  100,000  Tracts,  and  the  demand  is 
increasing ;  and  so  are  our  means  for  sending  them  into 
the  heart  of  the  country,  through  some  of  our  brethren  who 
from  necessity  lead  a  traveling  life.  The  Lord  bless  you, 
and  all  the  brethren  who  have  already  rendered  us  so  much 
assistance  ;  but  I  beg  leave  to  stir  up  your  minds  by  way 
of  remembrance.  We  cannot  do  without  you;  and  we 
feel  confident  you  will  do  what  you  can.  Multitudes 
around  us  are  perishing  in  their  ignorance  and  sins ;  we 
have  a  way  of  access  to  them ;  we  can  tell  them  through 
our  Tracts  that  there  is  a  refuge  for  the  guilty,  the  cross 
of  Christ,  and  that  all  who  believe  in  him  have  eternal  life, 
and  shall  not  enter  into  condemnation.  I  hope  soon  to 
have  a  number  of  young  men  connected  with  us  who  will 
carry  the  truth  into  the  most  distant  parts  of  Protestant 
and  Roman  Catholic  Germany. — Dear  brethren,  send  over 
and  help  us.  Eighteen  of  my  dear  brethren  in  Hamburg 
are  already  engaged  with  me  in  distributing  Tracts.  At 
Oldenburg  the  little  Baptist  interest  is  growing,  and  our 
brethren  are  active  fellow-laborers.  Through  them  our 
publications  can  be  circulated  in  every  direction,  in  that 
dark  region,  and  the  adjoining  parts  of  Hanover  and  East 


92  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

Eriesland.  In  Mecklenburg,  where  there  are  hardly  any 
witnesses  for  the  truth,  I  have  one  or  two  friends,  who  are 
ever  ready  to  every  good  work.  In  Prussia,  Russia,. and 
on  the  Rhine,  as  also  in  South  Germany,  and  even  in 
Switzerland,  I  stand  connected  with  dear  brethren  who  are 
anxious  to  co-operate  with  me  in  the  work." 

The  Baptist  church  in  Hamburg,  has  grown  from  seven 
to  fifty.  Churches  have  been  formed  in  Oldenburg  and 
Berlin,  the  capital  of  Prussia ;  over  the  last,  Bro.  Lehmann 
is  pastor.  A  Tract  and  a  Temperance  Society  have  been 
formed.  A  neat  pocket  edition  of  Bunyan's  Pilgrim  has 
been  issued  by  Mr.  Oncken,  at  his  own  expense.  Mrs. 
Judson's  Memoir,  in  German,  will  be  issued  in  July ;  for 
which  there  have  been  already  contributed  in  this  country 
$725.61,  and  $460.13  (including  expenses),  paid  over  ;  also 
$122.93  have  been  received  for  German  Tracts. 

Burmah  continues  open  as  an  important  field  for  Tract 
distribution.  The  results  of  labor  there  are  most  cheering. 
The  contributors  for  this  object  since  the  last  Triennial 
Convention  amount  to  $240.16. 

China  also  is  opening.  Bro.  Shuck,  one  of  our  Mission- 
aries, writes  from  Macao,  August,  183T :  "I  have  written 
a  Christian  Tract  in  the  Chinese  language,  of  about  sixteen 
pages,  and  it  is  now  in  a  course  of  publication.  The 
workmen  have  agreed  to  cut  the  blocks,  and  print  and  bind 
500  copies,  all  for  $15 ;  furnishing  paper  and  every  thing 
else.  I  shall  have  to  advance  the  money  myself.  Any 
appropriation  for  publishing  Tracts  will  be  most  thankfully 
received.  I  rejoice  to  hear  of  the  good  your  Society  and 
its  publications  are  doing  at  home ;  but  what  do  you  intend 
doing  towards  publishing  Tracts  in  the  Chinese  lauguage  ? 
To  say  nothing  of  the  wants  of  my  other  dear  brethren, 
I  shall  need  at  least  $1000  as  soon  as  you  can  send  the 
amount  to  me.  Recollect,  nothing  has  yet  been  done  for 
Cochin  China  whose  written  language  is  the  same  as  the 


WORK  AT  HOME  AND  ABROAD.  93 

written  language  of  this  empire.  I  shall  now  more  than 
ever  appreciate  the  circulation  of  Christian  Tracts,  as  the 
amiable  Chinaman  whom  I  was  lately  privileged  to  baptize, 
was  by  the  divine  blessing  led  to  cast  away  his  idolatry, 
and  to  seek  the  Saviour,  mainly  from  the  perusal  of 
them." 

Other  extensive  and  important  fields  for  usefulness  in 
Africa,  Nova  Scotia,  Canada,  Texas,  Mexico,  and  South 
America,  in  which  the  Society  has  commenced  operations, 
are  needing  enlarged  appropriations. 

Four  brethren  only,  have  been  employed  as  Agents 
during  the  year — Rev.  J.  M.  Peck,  Samuel  Glover,  E. 
Goodenough,  and  Mr.  Josiah  Reed — and  these  for  a 
short  time  only.  The  number  of  Depositories  is  34  ;  of 
which  twenty-one  are  owned  by  the  Society.  Seven  are 
in  the  Yalley  of  the  Mississippi,  with  Tracts  amounting 
to  $1,256.75;  in  the  others  owned  by  the  Society, 
they  amount  to  $1,141.93;  in  the  General  Depository, 
$2,250.97.  Total  amount  of  stock  in  Tracts,  $5,249.65. 
The  total  amount  received  on  the  Tract  House  Fund,  is 
$861.20.  The  Library  has  200  volumes.  It  includes  also 
a  vast  mass  of  Associational  Minutes  collected  by  the  Rev. 
Luther  Rice,  and  presented  by  him  to  the  Society  a  short 
time  before  his  death. 

The  book  business,  as  connected  with  the  Depository, 
being  found  after  two  years  trial  to  be  unprofitable,  it  was 
concluded  to  abandon  it. 

The  total  receipts  of  the  Society  for  the  fifteen  months 
were  $10,264.32.  Of  this  $500  were  received  from  the 
late  Thomas  W.  Tolraan,  of  Randolph,  Mass.,  who  besides 
this,  left  a  bequest  to  the  Society  of  $1000,  to  be  paid 
hereafter.  Of  this  excellent  man  the  editor  of  the  Chris- 
tian Watchman  says :  "  He  was  always  ready  to  every 
good  word  and  work.  For  all  those  institutions  which 
propose  as  their  object  the  promulgation  of  Christianity, 


94  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 

his  heart  and  hand  were  ever  open.  His  benevolence  was 
of  the  most  expansive  kind ;  and  like  the  lamented  N.  R. 
Cobb,  whose  example  it  was  his  aim  to  imitate,  he  con- 
stantly devoted  all  his  income  beyond  a  certain  amount,  to 
the  promotion  of  the  cause  of  Christ.  Some  years  before 
his  death  he  had  resolved  to  leave  for  his  children  only  a 
certain  sum  ;  and  when  during  his  last  sickness,  he  found 
that  he  was  worth  some  five  or  eight  thousand  dollars  more 
than  that  sum,  he  conscientiously  gave  it  all  to  the  Lord. 
He  felt  that  he  was  the  Lord's  steward,  and  that  the  pro- 
perty which  had  been  entrusted  to  his  care,  was  to  be  dis- 
posed of  according  to  his  pleasure." 

In  closing  their  Report,  the  Board  desire  to  give  thanks 
to  God  for  the  success  which  has  thus  far  attended  their 
labors,  and  earnestly  bespeak  for  the  Society  the  fervent 
and  believing  prayers  of  all  who  desire  the  coming  of 
Messiah's  kingdom. 

Rev.  Barnas  Sears,  D.D.,  of  the  Newton  Theological 
Institution,  Mass.,  presented  the  following  resolution : — 


43.  Dr.  Sears  on  Germany. 

"  Resolved,  That  a  most  interesting  and  important  field 
is  now  presented  in  GERMANY,  for  the  distribution  of  Chris- 
tian Tracts,  which  shall  fully  exhibit  the  truth  of  God  in 
reference  to  the  doctrines  and  ordinances  of  the  Gospel." 

Prof.  Sears  sustained  this  resolution  by  a  speech  of  the 
deepest  interest.  Among  other  things  he  said,  "  The  field 
we  now  contemplate  has  been  opened  to  us  by  Providence. 
Of  its  importance  I  need  hardly  speak.  It  has  a  common 
language,  spoken  from  the  Baltic  to  the  Alps,  and  from  the 
borders  of  Holland  almost  to  the  Turkish  dominions.  The 
same  Tracts  published  for  this  extensive  territory  may  also 


DR.    SEARS   ON   GERMANY.  95 

be  circulated  in  the  German  colonies,  so  numerous  and 
large,  both  in  America  and  Russia.  Germany  is  the  centre 
of  Europe  ;  and  in  religion  and  philosophy  is  at  this  moment 
exciting  a  wider  power  than  any  other  country  in  Christen- 
dom. France  has,  in  this  respect,  lost  the  first  rank.  Her 
language  and  literature  have  lost  their  magic.  Germany, 
with  her  universities,  frequented  by  the  youth,  not  only  of 
the  northern,  but  also  of  the  southern  and  western  nations 
of  Europe — universities  which  are  becoming  the  models  to 
other  nations,  and  in  which  are  trained  those  who  in  ancient 
learning  are  the  teachers  and  guides  of  their  respective 
countries — Germany,  surrounded  on  every  side  by  those 
who  are  drinking  in  her  influences,  and  who  are  crossing 
her  territories  in  visiting  other  nations,  cannot  be  an  unim- 
portant country.  Whatever  acts  upon  Germany,  acts  upon 
all  Europe. 

"  The  character  of  the  people  is  very  favorable  to  religi- 
ous impressions.  They  are  characterized  by  simplicity  of 
heart,  by  honesty,  by  fidelity,  and  by  a,  love  of  religious 
fervor.  They  have  few  prejudices  against  foreign  books, 
and  foreign  opinions ;  they  have  a  curiosity  to  know  what 
others  believe,  and  whether  there  may  not  be  some  truth  in 
it. — The  present  state  of  theology  invites  evangelical  effort. 
Rationalism  has  had  its  reign ;  truth  and  nature  are  begin- 
ning to  return,  after  the  impulse  which  removed  them  has 
spent  its  force.  The  public  mind  is  in  agitation  ;  and  while 
its  tendencies  are  towards  sound  religion,  it  is  peculiarly 
open  to  impression.  Revivals  under  young  preachers  of 
the  new  generation  are  becoming  common  in  Pomerania, 
in  Silesia,  and  in  the  west  of  Germany.  In  such  a  crisis 
every  effort  is  of  great  importance.  As  Baptists,  we  have 
fewer  obstacles  in  Germany  than  at  home.  The  learned 
theologians  generally  concede  the  facts  on  which  we  ground 
our  practice ;  several  of  their  scholars  have  recently  written 
in  support  of  them.  And  though  they  by  a  circuitous  way, 


96  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

by  philosophical  refinements  evade  the  practice,  yet  the 
common  people  naturally  adopt  the  short  and  simple  way 
of  following  the  Bible.  The  clergy  are  not  highly  respected. 
They  are  known  to  be  generally  of  a  secular  character,  men 
who  preach  not  for  conscience'  sake,  but  for  a  living.  The 
opposition  to  our  missionaries  is  chiefly  from  the  police, 
and  that  solely  from  the  instigation  of  the  interested  clergy. 
Neither  the  police  itself,  nor  the  common  people,  have  any 
hostility  towards  us.  On  the  contrary,  our  missionaries  are 
often  welcomed  by  them  with  enthusiasm. 

"  Furthermore,  the  character  of  their  religious  books 
leaves  us  much  unoccupied  ground.  Their  books  are,  with 
the  exception  of  elementary  works  for  their  schools,  either 
critical  works  for  the  learned,  or  merely  sentimental  pro- 
ductions, dealing  only  in  the  poetry  of  religion.  Works 
on  practical  piety,  combining  solid  argument  with  warm 
appeals  to  the  heart,  are  scarcely  known  there.  Writings 
of  such  a  cast  as  those  of  Andrew  Fuller  are  not  to  be 
found  at  all.  There  is,  therefore,  an  inviting  sphere  of  action 
before  this  Society. 

"Did  Providence  ever  more  unequivocally  call  upon  us 
than  in  the  origin  of  the  German  mission  ?  What  a  man 
was  given  us  at  the  very  outset  I  what  zeal  and  piety  have 
marked  his  course  1  what  success  has  attended  his  labors  ! — 
It  would  be  ungrateful  to  God  not  to  acknowledge  his 
goodness  in  this  respect.  Mr.  Oncken  was  the  first  Chris- 
tian I  saw  in  Germany.  I  have  spent  weeks  in  his  family ; 
have  traveled  with  him;  have  been  with  him  to  men  in 
power,  and  in  the  abodes  of  poverty ;  I  have  heard  him  lift 
up  the  voice  of  ardent  prayer  in  the  house  of  nobility,  and 
in  the  house  of  affliction  and  distress;  I  have  heard  him 
exhorting  in  private,  and  preaching  with  a  subduing  elo- 
quence and  holy  fervor  in  public  ;  and  I  feel  called  upon 
to  bear  this  public  testimony  to  his  inestimable  worth. 
Such  men  as  these,  who  know  the  genius,  and  habits,  and 


DR.    SEARS   ON   GERMANY  97 

feelings  of  the  people,  who  are  acquainted  with  the  nature 
of  the  government,  both  in  its  strength  and  its  weakness, 
cannot  be  put  down.  They  know  how  to  make  use  of 
public  sentiment,  to  which  monarchs  must  listen.*  They 
often  throw  the  police  into  a  dilemma,  from  which  it  would 
gladly  escape.  They  can  pass  from  one  petty  state  to 
another,  and  always  find  a  place  to  labor,  even  if  perse- 
cuted. 

"  The  German  mission  has  remarkable  facilities  for  trans- 
lating and  circulating  our  best  Tracts.  To  Mr.  Oncken 
both  languages  are  almost  vernacular.  You  have  read  his 
letters  ;  certainly  no  bad  specimens  of  English  composition. 
In  conversation  you  would  not  detect  his  German  origin,  so 
perfectly  easy  and  natural  is  his  English  pronunciation. 
How  easily  can  he,  who  is  a  printer  and  bookseller  too, 
superintend  both  the  printing  and  distribution  of  Tracts  ?" 

After  an  interesting  account  of  Mr.  C.  C.  Tauchnitz  of 
Leipsic,  who  was  converted,  baptized,  and  ordained  to  the 
ministry  in  England,  and  is  now  by  the  sudden  death  of  his 
father  in  possession  of  the  greatest  stereotype  establish- 
ment in  the  world,  "THE  TAUCHNITZ  PRESS,"  Prof.  Sears 
closed  by  saying,  "  I  could  tell  of  the  young  men  who  are 
drinking  in  our  views  ;  of  the  numerous  preachers  and 
theologians  of  distinction  who  are  almost  Baptists,  and  who 
are  in  constant  correspondence  with  our  missionary ;  of  the 
causes  which  keep  so  many  from  acting  fully  according  to 
their  convictions,  but  I  have  already  occupied  too  much 
time." 

*  A  remarkable  instance  of  this  is  seen  recently  in  the  interview  of 
Messrs.  Oncken,  Lehman,  and  Schaufler,  with  the  King  of  Prussia;  the 
particulars  of  which  may  be  found  in  the  New  York  Chronicle  for  March 
10,  and  the  New  York  Recorder  and  Register  for  March,  14,  1855. 
The  object  was  to  represent  to  the  King  the  real  condition  of  the  Bapti  t 
churches  in  Germany,  and  to  secure  from  the  King  some  promised  con- 
cession of  legal  protection  throughout  his  dominions. 

9 


98  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

Rev.  Alfred  Bennett,  agent  of  the  Triennial  Conrention 
of  Foreign  Missions,  presented  the  following  resolution  : 

fiesolved,  That  the  blessing  of  God,  which  has  rested 
upon  the  circulation  of  Tracts  in  Burmah,  China,  and  other 
Eastern  nations,  calls  loudly  upon  us  to  aid  the  Baptist 
General  Tract  Society,  in  circulating  the  truth  more  widely 
in  all  lands. 

Mr.  Bennett  spoke  with  his  usual  good  sense  and  warmth 
of  heart  in  support  of  the  resolution.  Referring  to  the 
scarcity  of  money,  he  said,  "  The  friends  of  benevolent 
objects  must  feel  that  economy  must  begin  in  their  own 
homes,  not  at  the  house  of  God.  In  the  language  of  a 
good  sister  whom  he  met,  they  must '  resolve  to  wear  their 
old  cloaks  another  year,  and  give  the  cost  of  a  new  one  to 
the  Lord's  treasury.'" 

This  hint  was  not  lost.  When  the  collection  was  taken 
up,  on  one  of  the  pledges  (which  amounted  in  all  to  $263) 

was  written,  " has  worn  the  old  cloak  another 

winter,  and  doubles  his  subscription,  $10." 

So  great  was  the  interest,  that  an  adjourned  meeting  was 
requested. 


44.  Adjourned  Meeting.     Resolutions. 

On  Wednesday  morning,  at  nine  o'clock,  the  members 
and  friends  of  the  Society  met  according  to  request  of  the 
evening  before ;  and  after  the  meeting  was  organized,  and 
prayer  offered,  the  following  resolutions  were  presented  by 
Bro.  R.  Babcock,  and  their  adoption  urged.  They  were 
seconded  by  Brn.  Ide,  Westcott,  Allen,  Aldrich,  and 
Eldridge,  and  passed  unanimously. 

1.  Resolved,  That  the  Tract  cause  is  deserving  of  more 
attention,  and  of  more  enlarged  and  liberal  efforts  for  its 


FIFTEENTH   ANNUAL   MEETING.  99 

promotion,  than  have  hitherto  been  bestowed  on  it  by  our 
churches. 

2.  Resolved,  That  it  be  earnestly  recommended  to  the 
pastors  of  the  churches,  to  bring  this  subject  prominently 
before  their  people  at  least  once  a  year,  and  secure  their  aid 
for  its  advancement ;  thus  enabling  the  Society  to  save  the 
expense  of  special  agents  to  advocate  its  claims. 

3.  Resolved,  That  we  recommend  to  our  brethren  in  the 
principal  cities  and  large  towns,  to  establish,  at  their  own 
expense,  Tract  Depositories  for  the  more  convenient  supply 
of  their  own  vicinity. 

It  was  also  voted,  that  Prof.  Sears  be  requested  to 
furnish  the  substance  of  his  address  last  evening,  to  be 
published  with  the  Report.  As  the  facts  it  presents  are 
of  permanent  value,  they  are  given  in  their  place  above. 

The  new  Board  of  Managers,  elected  at  this  anniversary, 
was  composed  of  the  following  persons :  George  B.  Ide, 
President;  Joseph  H.  Kennard,  Vice  President;  Ira  M. 
Allen,  General  Agent ;  Wm.  W.  Keen,  Treasurer ;  Win. 
Ford,  Secretary ;  Managers,  R.  W.  Cushman,  J.  A.  Warne, 
John  Davis,  John  Mulford,  Jr.,  Jos.  Reynolds,  R.  Babcock, 
Jr.,  Isaac  Reed,  C.  B.  Keyes,  A.  D.  Gillette,  Wm.  Sha- 
drach,  Wm.  E.  Garrett,  Thos.  P.  Sherborne,  L.  Knowles, 
Jr.,  Jacob  Reed,  R.  Fenner,  J.  B.  Trevor,  John  C.  Davis, 
Wm.  S.  Hansell,  Wilson  Jewell,  Wm.  Vandyke,  and  John 
Jones. 


45.  Fifteenth  Annual  Meeting,  1839. 

The  Fifteenth  Anniversary  was  held  with  the  First 
Baptist  Church,  Philadelphia,  Tuesday  Evening,  April  23, 
1839 ;  the  President,  Rev.  George  B.  Ide,  in  the  chair. 
Prayer  by  Rev.  Dr.  Sharp,  of  Boston.  The  Annnal  Re- 
port of  the  Board  was  read  and  adopted,  followed  by  the 
Report  of  the  Treasurer  as  usual. 


100  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

The  Annual  Report  claims  a  high  rank  for  the  Tract 
cause  among  the  instrumentalities  for  the  world's  con- 
version. "  Humble,  silent,  and  unobtrusive,  its  influences, 
like  the  drops  of  the  summer  shower,  descend  in  minute 
and  isolated  portions,  but  like  them  clothe  the  waste  places 
of  the  wilderness  with  verdure  and  beauty. — The  Scriptures 
themselves  were  originally  promulgated  in  this  manner.  The 
Gospels  and  Epistles,  written  separately  on  rolls  of  parch- 
ment, were  in  this  form  widely  scattered  abroad,  and  under 
the  blessing  of  God  exerted  no  feeble  agency  in  spreading 
through  the  darkened  nations  the  light  of  eternal  life.  In 
the  evangelical  enterprises  of  later  days  the  same  instrumen- 
tality has  been  found  eminently  powerful.  Portions  of  the 
word  of  God,  and  brief  exhibitions  of  scriptural  truth,  have 
been  distributed  among  thousands  of  benighted  pagans,  and 
have  proved  the  means  of  deepening  the  impressions  pro- 
duced by  the  voice  of  the  living  teacher,  and  often  the 
means  of  carrying  the  knowledge  of  salvation  to  regions 
far  remote  from  the  scene  of  his  labors. — What  amazing 
results  this  form  of  evangelism  is  destined  to  achieve  in 
the  approaching  conversion  of  the  world,  is  known  only  to 
Him  who  appoints  the  instruments,  and  crowns  them  with 
success.  To  the  neglected  population  of  our  great  cities — 
to  those  who  'go  down  to  the  sea  in  ships  and  do  business 
in  the  great  waters' — to  travelers  in  our  steamboats,  in 
railroad  cars,  and  hotels — to  the  sick  in  our  hospitals — to 
the  soldier  in  his  barrack — to  the  inmates  of  prisons  and 
almshouses — to  the  lone  settler  on  the  distant  frontier — 
these  silent  messengers  find  the  way,  conveying  the  lessons 
of  everlasting  truth." 

But  little,  however,  had  been  accomplished  the  last  year 
iii  employing  these  amazing  capabilities  of  good.  Only 
four  new  Tracts  had  been  added,  making  the  series,  with 
occasional  Tracts,  170.  Eight  thousand  copies  of  Pen- 
gilly's  Scripture  Guide,  and  one  thousand  of  the  Baptist 


FIFTEENTH   ANNUA'^  .MFtfTtNQ.;  1  01 

Manual  were  published.  Whole  number  of  bound  pub- 
lications, 28.  Pages  of  stereotype  plates,  3056.  Tracts 
printed  during  the  year,  132,022,  making  2,178,774  pages; 
issued  from  the  Depository,  3,254,220  ;  leaving  on  hand 
2,134,180  pages. 

The  Baptist  Rejprd,  as  a  semi-monthly  paper,  was  gain- 
ing patronage,  and  yielding  some  profit. 

Free  grants  were  made  to  the  amount  of  $677.93;  dis- 
tributed mostly  in  the  Mississippi  Valley ;  the  balance  in 
Jamaica,  Africa,  Nova  Scotia,  Texas,  and  other  parts. 
Amount  received  on  the  Valley  Fund,  $928.40;  making  in 
all,  $3,778.65.  Balance  due  the  Valley  Fund,  $1,364.84. 
Amount  received  for  foreign  fields  only  $125.15 — a  sum  in- 
credibly small  for  a  work  so  immense.  In  Germany 
especially  the  blessing  is  great.  An  edition  of  5000 
copies  of  the  Memoir  of  Mrs.  Judson,  in  German,  was 
issued  during  the  year  by  Bro.  Oncken,  who  also  solicits 
aid  for  publishing  his  German  translation  of  Pengilly's 
Scripture  Guide.  An  appropriation  of  $421.57  had  been 
sent  him. 

As  to  Agents,  the  Board  use  decisive  language.  "  The 
experiment,  which  we  have  tried  for  three  years  past,  of 
collecting  funds  for  the  purpose  of  the  Society,  without  the 
employment  of  traveling  agents,  has  proved  utterly  futile 
and  delusive.  In  the  present  state  of  the  churches,  we 
must  have  agents  to  present  to  them  the  claims  of  the  So- 
ciety, or  nothing  comparatively  will  be  done."  Gratuitous 
services  had  been  rendered  by  brethren  K.  Babcock  and 
J.  M.  Peck,  and  three  traveling  agents.  Messrs.  Sutton, 
Courtney  and  Leighton  had  been  appointed.  A  few  aux- 
iliaries had  been  formed.  Depositories  27 ;  of  which  13 
are  owned  by  the  Society;  3  were  formed  during  the 
year.  The  Library  had  received  a  valuable  accession  of 
books  and  curiosities  from  Bro.  Malcom  and  the  Calcutta 
Baptist  Missionaries.  Tract  House  Fund,  $910.49.  Total 
9* 


4  02        f  AM&Ri  CAN    BAPTIST  PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

receipts  of  the  year,  $9,223.26;  expenditures,  $9,682.43; 
balance  in  the  Treasury,  $354.43.  Among  the  donations 
was  a  bequest  of  $300,  from  Mrs.  Abigail  Marshall,  of  the 
Oliver  St.  Church,  New  York. 


46.  Duty  of  the  Denomination  to  this  Cause. 

Several  new  instances  of  the  influence  of  Tracts  are 
given  in  the  Report,  which  makes  a  strong  appeal  on  the 
obligations  of  the  denomination  to  take  a  deeper  hold  of 
this  cause.  "  How  absurd  the  infatuation  which  would 
hoard  treasures  for  a  future  generation,  when  the  problem 
is  yet  to  be  solved  whether  the  leveling  spirit  of  Infidelity 
shall  not  ere  long  break  down  the  barriers  of  law  and 
order,  and  revel  in  the  possession  of  those  accumulations 
which,  if  earlier  and  more  faithfully  used,  would  have  cured 
these  social  evils. — What  excuse  can  we  offer  if  any  of  the 
souls  of  this  generation  remain  unblest  with  the  proffer  of 
the  knowledge  of  God.  Our  Society  proffers  the  very 
facilities  which  seem  requisite  for  such  a  purpose.  It  is 
hindered  by  no  conventional  compromises,  but  furnishes 
the  whole  truth  in  doctrines  and  ordinances,  and  is  on  this 
account  more  likely  to  secure  the  favor  and  confidence  of 
Baptists,  as  well  as  more  likely  to  do  good  to  the  souls  of 
men,  than  those  institutions  which  venture  to  put  asunder 
what  God  has  joined  together.  Such  are  the  facilities 
which  our  plates  and  presses,  our  Depositories  and  Agents 
furnish,  that  with  a  very  slight  additional  expense,  the 
Society  might  double  its  actual  issues ;  and  by  the  more 
vigorous  co-operation  of  brethren  in  all  parts  of  our 
country  might  vastly  enhance  its  means  of  usefulness." 


ENLARGEMENT   OF   THE   SOCIETY   PROPOSED.  103 


47.  Enlargement  of  the  Society  proposed. 

A  careful  revision  of  the  whole  list  of  publications  is 
suggested  by  the  Board,  with  a  view  to  the  correction  or 
substitution  of  Tracts  already  approved.  It  is  also  pro- 
posed to  secure  additions  to  the  series  of  (1)  several  Brief 
Narrative  Tracts  of  four  or  eight  pages,  attractive  in  style 
and  incident,  direct  in  pungent  appeals  to  the  conscience 
and  heart,  fully  imbued  with  evangelical  truth  and  the 
benevolence  of  the  Gospel ;  (2)  the  regular  publication 
every  year  of  an  Evangelical  Almanac  and  Baptist  Annual 
Register;  and  (3)  the  issue  of  Bound  Volumes,  to  consist 
of  Doctrinal  Series,  a  Historical  Series,  and  a  Biogra- 
phical Series. 

This  last  fruitful  suggestion— the  germ  of  subsequent 
changes  and  enlargements — is  vindicated  as  follows :  "  There 
can  be  no  doubt  that  the  object  and  design  of  the  Society, 
as  set  forth  in  the  Constitution,  embraces  a  sphere  as  wide 
as  this ;  and  the  examples  of  the  American  Tract  Society, 
the  Religious  Tract  Society  of  London  ;  and  indeed  the 
practice  of  our  own  Society  ever  since  its  removal  to  this 
city,  proves  the  propriety  and  usefulness  of  the  circulation 
of  volumes,  as  well  as  smaller  Tracts.  The  Board  are 
deeply  impressed  with  the  conviction  that  a  vigorous  effort 
should  be  made  the  present  year  to  commence  the  publica- 
tion of  volumes  in  each  of  these  series.  Baptists,  as  a 
denomination,  have  no  reason  to  be  ashamed  of  their 
history ;  and  the  memorials  of  many  of  the  early  laborers 
for  the  promotion  of  Christ's  cause  in  this  and  in  other 
lands,  will  be  directly  adapted  to  furnish  the  instruction 
and  encouragement  which  we  need,  to  prompt  us  to  more 
self-denying  and  enlarged  enterprises  for  the  advancement 
of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom.  These  memorials  may  be 
secured  by  a  timely  effort,  and  that  kind  of  co-operation 


104  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 

which  it  is  believed  this  Society  may  call  forth  and  con- 
centrate. Another  generation  will  find  it  more  difficult,  if 
not  impossible,  to  gather  up  these  precious  fragments  of 
history  and  biography. — Such  a  series  of  publications  as 
those  above  proposed  are  most  likely  to  secure  a  ready  peru- 
sal, and  exert  a  salutary  and  widely  extensive  influence. 


48,  Resignation  of  Mr.  Allen. 

The  resignation  of  Rev.  Ira  M.  Allen  was  announced 
by  the  Board  in  this  Report,  in  the  following  terms  :  "The 
Society  will  hear  with  regret  that  we  are  hereafter  to  be 
deprived  of  the  services  of  our  esteemed  General  Agent, 
who  for  the  last  eight  years  has  laboriously,  faithfully  and 
successfully  served  this  Society.  This,  indeed,  is  not  the 
place  or  the  time  for  the  expression  of  all  that  is  felt  on 
this  subject.  So  arduous  has  his  service  become  by  his 
extensive  acquaintance,  and  the  multifarious  character  of 
official  and  unofficial  duties  which  it  involved,  that  his 
health  considerably  failed  during  the  past  few  months ;  and 
with  the  strongest  asusrance  on  his  part  of  continued  zeal 
for  the  welfare  of  the  Society,  with  whose  operations  he 
has  been  so  fully  identified,  he  has  expressed  his  decided 
determination  to  withdraw  from  this  important  and  re- 
sponsible post." 

The  Report  closes  with  an  expression  of  devout  depend- 
ence upon  God  for  success  in  all  its  future  operations. 

Its  acceptance  and  publication  were  sustained  by  remarks 
from  Rev.  S.  W.  Lynd,  of  Cincinnati,  Baker,  of  Norfolk, 
and  Ilsley,  of  Brooklyn ;  after  which  Rev.  Baron  Stow, 
of  Boston,  offered  and  supported  the  following  resolution : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  enlargement  of  operations  proposed 
in  the  Report  be  approved  by  the  Society,  and  the  Board 
be  instructed  to  carry  it  into  effect  as  early  as  possible." 


SIXTEENTH   ANNUAL   MEETING.  105 

He  adverted  to  the  origin  of  the  Society — to  the  honored 
names  of  DAVIS,  KNOWLES,  STAUGHTON,  and  REYNOLDS — 
now  all  gone  I  Of  all  its  founders,  only  one  or  two 
besides  himself  remained.  He  spoke  of  the  usefulness  of 
its  publications  which  had  come  under  his  own  eye.  He 
liked  the  word  enlargement  in  the  resolution  he  had  offered. 
Having  assisted  in  rocking  the  cradle  of  the  Society  in  its 
infancy,  he  felt  a  very  strong  desire  to  see  and  to  aid  it 
now  in  assuming  the  manly  attitude  of  mature  years ;  and 
he  could  not  doubt  the  willingness  of  the  churches,  if 
properly  solicited,  to  furnish  the  requisite  aid  to  enable  the 
Board  to  extend  their  operations  as  proposed. 

A  collection  of  $56.40  was  taken ;  after  which,  on 
motion,  it  was  resolved,  that  the  Constitution  be  so 
amended  as  to  give  to  the  Board  the  appointment  of  all 
its  Agents. 

In  the  new  Board,  Daniel  Dodge,  Richard  Gardiner, 
David  D.  Stewart,  George  Swope,  Benjamin  R.  Loxley, 
and  James  M.  Linnard,  took  the  place  of  R.  W.  Cushman, 
John  Mulford,  Jr.,  Joseph  Reynolds,  Thos.  F.  Sherborne, 
J.  B.  Trevor,  Wm.  Vandyke. 


49.  Sixteenth  Annual  Meeting,  1840. 

The  Sixteenth  Anniversary  of  the  Society — the  epoch  of 
its  reorganization  and  enlargement — was  held  at  the  Taber- 
nacle Church,  N.  Y.,  on  Tuesday,  April  30,  1840;  the 
president,  Rev.  G.  B.  Ide,  in  the  chair. 

The  Annual  Report,  drawn  up  by  Dr.  Jewell,  opens  with 
an  able  and  accurate  sketch  of  the  origin  and  progress  of 
the  Society  up  to  that  time — a  period  of  over  sixteen  years. 
This  sketch  occupies  eleven  closely  printed  octavo  pages, 
and  is  a  valuable  paper  for  reference  on  account  of  its  inti- 


106  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 

mate  knowledge  of  affairs  for  the  latter  years  of  the  period 
embraced,  and  its  concise  clearness  of  exposition. 

The  change  occasioned  by  the  resignation  of  the  General 
Agent  the  year  before,  which  it  was  supposed  would  have 
thrown  the  business  department  of  the  Board  into  confusion, 
caused  less  inconvenience  than  was  anticipated ;  and  although 
much  extra  labor  was  thrown  upon  the  new  agent,  Rev. 
BENJAMIN  R.  LOXLEY,  and  the  several  committees,  yet 
the  thorough  examination  of  the  books  and  papers  thus 
required,  could  not  fail  to  result  in  the  ultimate  benefit  of 
the  Society.  Mr.  Loxley  had  received  an  appointment  as 
Assistant  Agent  under  the  former  Board,  previously  to  the 
resignation  of  Mr.  Allen,  and  had  thus  formed  some 
acquaintance  with  the  business  operations,  from  his  frequent 
intercourse  with  that  brother,  who  afforded  him  every  aid 
in  his  power.  Still  it  became  necessary  for  him  to  apply 
himself  closely,  and  long,  before  he  could  transact  all  the 
business  in  a  satisfactory  manner,  and  bring  the  books  and 
accounts  into  a  satisfactory  condition.  Great  credit  is 
awarded  him  for  this  in  the  Report. 

The  general  depression  of  benevolent  enterprise  during 
the  year  led  to  necessary  retrenchments  and  rigid  economy; 
and  every  thing  was  done  with  an  eye  not  only  to  the 
scarcity  of  funds  and  the  difficulty  of  collecting  debts,  but 
also  to  the  contemplated  reorganization  of  the  Society,  to 
prepare  for  which  a  Circular  had  been  drawn  up  and  sent 
abroad. 

The  new  publications  of  the  year  were  three  Tracts  and 
three  bound  volumes.  The  Yolume  enterprise  was  begun 
by  the  issue  of  "  Booth's  Reign  of  Grace,"  "  Backus'  Church 
History,"  and  "Memoirs  of  Distinguished  Christians," — 
one  in  each  of  the  three  great  departments  proposed  last 
year,  the  Doctrinal,  the  Historical,  and  the  Biographical 
series.  These  volumes  are  distinguished  by  the  interesting 
quality  of  their  contents,  and  the  neatness  of  their  mechani- 


THE  SOCIETY'S  WORK  IN  SIXTEEN  YEARS.         107 

cal  execution.  The  cost  was  $445.57.  The  information 
thus  diffused  wns  admirably  adapted  to  the  wants  of  the 
denomination,  and  the  very  best  of  its  kind  in  each  depart- 
ment. 

The  number  of  pages  of  Tracts  printed  was  1,552,962, 
at  a  cost  of  $1035.31.  The  free  grants,  owing  to  the  want 
of  facilities  for  their  distribution,  amounted  to  only  $87.35, 
or  131,025  pages. 

The  semi-monthly  paper,  the  Baptist  Record,  had  reached 
a  circulation  of  about  1900  copies,  and  many  friends  were 
desirous  of  its  weekly  issue  in  the  same  form  and  size. 

The  stereotype  plates  were  3615  ;  less  than  one-half  of 
which  were  of  a  denominational  character.  The  original 
cost  is  put  down  at  $3615.  The  Tract  House  Fund  was 
$938  :  no  steps  having  been  taken  to  increase  it. 

Only  one  traveling  Agent  had  been  employed,  the  Rev. 
C.  B.  Keyes. 

From  thirteen  auxiliaries  $677.90  were  received.  Of  the 
twenty-eight  Depositories,  with  Agents  attached  to  them, 
most  were  supported  by  the  Society,  and  were  doing  very 
little.  Some  were  regarded  as  a  dead  letter. 

The  total  amount  received  into  the  treasury  for  the  year 
was  $8607. 05. 


50.  The  Society's  Work  in  Sixteen  Years. 

This  statement  of  the  operations  of  the  year  1839-40,  is 
given  in  the  Annual  Report,  in  connection  with  the  epitome 
of  the  proceedings  for  the  preceding  fifteen  years,  as  the 
last  part  of  a  whole,  then  completed.  The  results  of  the 
entire  history  are  then  modestly  and  happily  summed  up 
thus :  "  After  this  hasty  and  imperfect  review  of  the  So- 
ciety's proceedings  since  its  earliest  formation,  the  question 


108  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY 

may  be  properly  asked  us,  '  What  has  beeen  accomplished  ?' 
In  answer  to  this  we  would  refer  you  to  the  following  sum- 
mary of  business  transacted  during  the  sixteen  years  of 
our  existence 


"TABLE  OP  RESULTS. 

The  receipts  of  the  treasury  have  been  $86,048.40 

There  have  been  stereotyped  a  series  of  Tracts 
from  No.  1  to  No.  160,  comprising  eight 
entire  volumes,  together  with  nine  occa- 
sional Tracts  and  three  bound  volumes. 

The   whole  number   of   Tracts   printed   have 

been  3,341,906 

The  pages  of  which  amounted  to  53,910,952 

Of  the   Triennial  Register,   there  have  been 

printed  an  edition  of  2,509 

Of  the  Society's  periodical,  (July  1827,  to  Jan. 

1836),  the  Tract  Magazine,*  (copies)  147,450 

Of  the  monthly  paper  (now  the  Baptist  Record), 
there  have  been  issued,  in  four  years,  (Jan. 
1836,  to  April  1840),  copies  to  the  num- 
ber of  150,600 

The  principal  and  interest  of  the  Tract  House 

Fund  $938,49 

The  number  of  Auxiliary  Societies  is  430 

"  "     Branch  Depositories,  28 

"  "    Life  Directors,  147 

"  "    Life  Members,  653 

The  Society  owns  of  Stereotpye  Plates,  3615 

Which  cost  $3615 

"  And  if  the  question  shall  be  asked,  '  Why  more  has  not 
been  done  in  this  open  and  extensive  field  of  labor — why, 

*  Estimated  from  data  nearly  perfect 


THE  SOCIETY'S  WORK  IN  SIXTEEN  YEARS.         109 

as  officers  of  this  Society,  we  have  not  fulfilled  our  task  ?' 
we  would  reply  even  as  did  the  officers  of  the  children  of 
Israel  to  Pharaoh :  '  Wherefore  dealest  thou  thus  with  thy 
servants  ?  There  is  no  straw  given  unto  thy  servants,  and 
they  say  to  us,  Make  brick :  and  behold,  the  fault  is  in 
thine  own  people.7 " 

The  Board  having  thus  closed  their  account  of  the  past, 
turn  their  glance  to  the  future ;  and  in  anticipation  of  the 
changes  required,  and  the  new  career  of  the  Society  in  an 
enlarged  form  and  with  rejuvenated  strength,  utters  the 
following  impressive  appeal : 

"The  circumstances  of  the  age;  the  animating  prospects 
of  the  Christian  Church ;  the  growing  influence  of  our 
denomination;  the  constantly  increasing  evidence  of  the 
happy  results  of  this  system  of  benevolence,  in  the  pleasing 
instances  of  conversion  ;  and  the  frequent  and  urgent  calls 
upon  the  Society  for  grants  and  supplies  of  Tracts,  which 
owing  to  the  limited  state  of  finances  your  Board  have  been 
unable  to  supply ;  have,  with  other  considerations,  led  them 
to  submit  to  the  denomination  a  Circular,  which  contains  a 
brief  outline  of  an  enlarged  plan  of  operations.  The 
views  contained  in  the  Circular  it  is  unnecessary  to  detail  in 
this  Report,  as  they  will  come  before  you  in  their  proper 
time  and  place.  Suffice  it  to  say,  the  suggestions  thus 
made,  we  have  every  reason  to  believe,  have  met  with  the 
decided  approbation  of  the  active  friends  of  benevolence, 
and  awakened  new  desires  to  sustain  an  effort,  which  by 
due  vigilance  and  exertion  is  destined,  not  only  to  consoli- 
date the  feelings  of  our  multitudinous  denomination,  -but  to 
subserve  the  interests  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom,  by  reno- 
vating and  evangelizing  the  mass  of  society,  and  by  achiev- 
ing the  predicted  trinmphs  of  the  Cross. 

"  It  cannot  but  strike  the  minds  of  those  who  nave  observed 
with  any  degree  of  care  the  particulars  of  the  operations 
of  this  Society,  and  have  traced  its  progress  step  by  step 
10 


110  AMERICAN  BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

through  the  sixteen  years  of  its  existence,  that  extreme 
vacillation  has  marked  its  path  ;  and  that  its  prosperity  has 
been  by  no  means  adequate  to  the  magnitude  of  the  work 
that  it  was  called  to  perform.  One  principal  cause  for  this 
partial  failure,  has  been,  we  believe,  the  want  of  concert  in 
operation,  and  intercourse  with  each  other  as  a  denomina- 
tion. Had  our  fellowship  in  this  enterprise  been  attended 
with  union  and  harmony  of  movements — had  there  existed 
that  enlargedness  of  heart,  that  genuine  charity,  that  self- 
devotion,  and  cordial  co-operation  in  sustaining  all  the 
salutary  measures  which  have  from  time  to  time  been 
devised  by  the  Board,  for  the  enlargement  of  the  kingdom 
of  Christ  through  our  publications,  we  should  have  been  at 
this  day  a  trumpet-tongued  advocate,  proclaiming  the  truth 
everywhere,  and  with  a  power  and  an  influence  irresistible 
dissipating  moral  darkness,  and  pouring  in  the  light  of 
Christianity  and  the  blessings  of  the  Gospel,  causing  the 
*  parched  ground  to  become  a  pool,  and  the  thirsty  land 
springs  of  water.  *  But  such  has  not  been  the  case,  because 
the  enterprise  has  not  been  appreciated  to  that  extent  which 
its  high  and  holy  objects  demanded. 

"  We  rejoice,  however,  to  know  that  we  have  done  good. 
We  have  circulated  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  of  our 
little  messengers  over  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land ; 
and  we  have  had  returns.  The  news  of  salvation,  through 
the  humble  instrumentality  of  our  Tracts,  has  reached  the 
ears  of  thousands  who  were  perishing,  and  they  have  been 
reclaimed.  But,  brethren,  the  day  of  judgment  alone  will 
reveal  the  influence  we  have  been  the  means  of  exerting 
upon  this  fallen  world. 

"  While,  however,  we  behold  so  much  sin  and  wicked- 
ness abounding,  and  know  how  much  is  to  be  accomplished, 
and  that  without  a  miracle  or  a  new  revelation ;  and  when 
we  see  our  brethren  who  ought  to  be  '  the  salt  of  the  earth' 
looking  on  with  slothful  indifference,  want  of  zeal,  con- 


THE   SOCIETY'S  WORK  IN   SIXTEEN  YEARS.  Ill 

tracted  liberality,  and  framing  excuses  from  poverty,  ob- 
Bcurity  and  ignorance — thus  losing  sight  of  their  obligations 
and  their  responsibilities ;  and  when  we  discover  how  dis- 
proportioned  and  misdirected  is  the  zeal  of  those  who  in- 
deed bear  up  this  benevolent  work,  compared  with  the 
mighty  results  charged  to  its  account — we  have  indeed 
ample  reason  to  say  that  the  churches  are  not  half  awake ; 
and  that  while  they  contend  for  the  '  mint  and  cummin,'  they 
lose  sight  of  the  nobler  end  in  view,  and  allow  the  tem- 
pestuous elements  of  their  natures  to  separate  them  from 
the  good  they  are  capable  of  accomplishing,  and  of  ren- 
dering that  aid  which  the  Saviour  demands  at  their 
hands." 


HISTORY. 


II. 


1.  New  Organization  desired  as  early  as  1835. 

As  early  as  1835,  in  the  great  meeting  of  the  Triennial 
Baptist  Convention,  at  Richmond,  a  proposition  was  made 
to  give  a  more  enlarged  scope  to  the  work  of  the  Baptist 
General  Tract  Society,  so  as  to  embrace  the  publication 
of  Books  as  well  as  Tracts,  and  to  place  its  operations  on 
a  more  adequate  and  effective  footing.  The  proposition 
was  hailed  with  joy ;  and  after  free  deliberation,  the  follow- 
ing resolutions  were  unanimously  passed,  embodying  the 
collective  voice  of  the  denomination  from  Maine  to  Mis- 
sissippi : — 

"  1.  That  it  is  expedient,  and  the  time  has  arrived,  to  have 
a  Society  to  publish  and  circulate  valuable  Books,  particu- 
larly of  a-  denominational  character,  for  family  use,  Sunday 
Schools,  &c. 

"2.  That  the  Baptist  General  Tract  Society  be  re- 
quested so  to  alter  its  constitution,  and  change  its  opera- 
tions, as  to  include  such  publications  ;  and  that  the  publi- 
cation of  Books  and  Tracts  by  that  Society  should  be  con- 
fined chiefly  to  such  as  set  forth  the  peculiar,  and,  as  they 
are  believed  to  be,  scriptural  principles  of  the  denomi- 
nation." 

A  committee  was  appointed  to  visit  Philadelphia,  and 
10*  (113) 


114  AMERICAN  BAPTIST  PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

obtain  the  concurrence  of  the  Board  of  the  Tract  Society 
But  owing  to  various  engagements,  including  the  appoint- 
ment of  its  Chairman,  Rev.  Howard  Malcom,  as  a  deputa- 
tion to  Burmah,  that  Committee  never  met;  and  this 
noble  and  much-needed  arrangement,  stamped  as  it  was 
with  the  seal  of  general  approval,  by  the  General  Con- 
vention, and  by  the  Periodical  Press  of  the  whole  denomi- 
nation, was  delayed  for  five  years  longer.  How  true,  in 
reference  to  ourselves,  are  the  words  of  Dr.  Wayland  :  "  It 
is  the  misfortune  of  man  to  be  wise  a  century  too  late." 


2.  A  Baptist  Sunday  School  Union  proposed  in  1839. 

The  Board  of  the  Baptist  Tract  Society  did  from  time 
to  time  agitate  the  subject.  But  what  could  they  do, 
alone ;  and  struggling  under  financial  difficulties  from  want 
of  co-operation,  which  threatened,  as  we  have  seen,  the 
dissolution  of  the  Society?  At  length  help  was  given 
them  from  an  unexpected  quarter.  The  Hudson  River 
Association,  at  its  session  in  1839,  pressed  on  the  denomi- 
nation the  necessity  of  a  Baptist  Sunday  School  Union,  to 
furnish  a  juvenile  literature,  corresponding  to  our  scriptural 
convictions. 


3.  Broader  Flan  of  the  Board.     Appeal 

This  step  encouraged  the  Board  of  the  Baptist  Tract 
Society  to  issue  a  circular  through  the  Baptist  Record  of 
March  25th,  1840,  which  was  extensively  circulated  by 
other  papers,  calling  upon  the  denomination  so  to  modify 
the  Tract  Society,  as  to  embrace  the  new  field  of  labor 
pointed  out  by  the  Hudson  River  Association,  and  any 


BROADER  PLAN    OF   THE   BOARD.      APPEAL.  115 

other  class  of  publications  demanded  by  the  general  good. 
They  also  submitted  the  following  plan  for  their  con- 
sideration : 

"1.  The  name 'Baptist  General  Tract  Society'  to  be- 
come extinct,  and  that  of  American  Baptist  Publication 
Society  to  be  substituted. 

"  2.  The  Constitution  of  the  present  Society  so  to  be 
altered,  as  to  enable  it  not  only  to  publish  and  circulate 
Tracts,  but  Sabbath- School  books,  also  Biographical, 
Doctrinal,  Historical,  and  other  valuable  religious  works  as 
shall  be  required,  and  which  publications  shall  embrace 
chiefly  those  of  a  denominational  character. 

"  3.  That  an  amicable  agreement  be  entered  into  with 
the  American  Tract  Society,  and  the  American  Sunday- 
School  Union,  to  obtain  their  publications  on  the  best 
possible  terms,  and  that  they  be  circulated  by  our  Agents, 
and  sold  at  our  Depositories,  in  connection  with  our  own 
denominational  publications,  and  at  such  prices  as  will 
enable  us  to  cover  contingent  expenses  on  all  sales. 

"  4.  That  immediately  after  this  organization  shall  have 
been  effected,  measures  be  adopted  to  put  into  extensive 
circulation,  in  each  State  of  the  Union,  the  publications  of 
the  Society  by  the  establishment  of  Depositories,  and  the 
appointment  of  traveling  agents  who  shall  be  well  supplied 
with  our  denominational  Tracts  and  Books,  and  also  with 
the  publications  of  the  American  Tract  Society  and  the 
American  Sunday-School  Union. 

"  5.  That  one  or  more  General  Agents,  a  Depository 
Agent,  and  an  Editor  of  the  Society's  publications,  men  of 
business  habits,  of  experience  and  talents,  be  appointed  to 
superintend  the  operations  of  the  Society. 

"  6.  That  an  arrangement  be  entered  into  with  the  New 
England  Sabbath- School  Union,  either  to  amalgamate,  or 
to  supply  us  with  a  large  and  very  general  assortment  of 
their  publications." 


116  AMERICAN   BAPTIST  PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

The  Circular  closes  with  these  words:  "The  above 
outline  of  a  plan  for  the  more  permanent  and  enlarged 
sphere  of  usefulness  of  what  is  now  our  Tract  Society,  is 
thus  presented  and  urged  upon  your  pious  meditations. 
It  is  an  undertaking  of  the  greatest  importance  to  us,  as  a 
distinct  and  separate  denomination.  The  positive  advan- 
tages that  must  accrue  by  spreading  before  the  young  and 
the  old  a  Baptist  literature,  by  introducing  to  the  rising 
generation  the  names  and  the  writings  of  those  distinguished 
men  who  have  contributed  so  largely  towards  the  shedding  of 
religious  light  and  truth  upon  the  world,  and  by  enlisting  the 
talents  of  eminent  Baptists  of  the  day — are  second  to  none. 

"  For  the  means  of  effecting  this  truly  noble  design,  we 
look  to  our  brethren,  who  have  never  been  backward  in 
contributing  of  their  influence  and  their  substance  to  the 
cause  of  benevolence  and  religion,  when  properly  presented 
to  their  minds.  In  this  instance  we  confidently  ask  and 
expect  your  countenance  and  support,  and  the  rest  we 
leave  with  God.  Nor  can  we  doubt,  that  when  you  reflect 
upon  the  utility  and  necessity,  for  some  system  of  opera- 
tions that  shall  supply  with  well-written  Tracts  and  Books 
of  a  denominational  character  the  young,  the  middle-aged, 
and  the  aged,  Sabbath- Schools  and  families ;  and  more 
especially  a  system,  which  designs  to  carry  them  to  the 
door  of  every  Sabbath- School — a  system,  too,  that  we  are 
encouraged  to  believe  will  give  a  new  impulse  to  all  who 
are  in  anywise  engaged  in  this  expansive  benevolence,  that 
will  strengthen  the  hands  of  those  who  are  discouraged, 
and  brighten  the  dying  hopes  of  the  desponding — you  will 
give  the  above  proposition  your  most  earnest  and  prayerful 
reflection,  and  be  prepared  to  instruct  your  delegates  at 
the  ensuing  anniversary,  when  this  matter  shall  come  before 
them  in  a  proper  shape,  to  contribute  all  their  influence  in 
its  behalf  by  a  decided  vote  for  such  a  reorganization  of 
the  Baptist  General  Tract  Society." 


THE   REORGANIZATION.      NEW   NAME.  117 


4.  The  Beorganization  in  1840.     New  Name. 

At  the  Annual  meeting  of  the  Tract  Society,  held  in  the 
Tabernacle  Church,  New  York,  (as  recorded  in  Part  I.  of 
this  History,)  the  new  plan  proposed  by  the  Board,  came 
up  for  deliberation  and  action,  after  the  reading  of  the 
Annual  Report.  It  was  vigorously  sustained  in  an  address 
by  Rev.  Rufus  Babcock,  D.D.,  who  urged  it  from  the 
number  and  necessities  of  the  denomination — the  freedom 
and  evident  force  of  our  principles-^and  the  aid  it  would 
afford  not  only  to  pastors,  but  to  our  missionary  efforts, 
both  Home  and  Foreign.  He  also  urged  as  indispensable 
to  future  and  enlarged  success,  the  importance  of  enterprise 
in  the  Board  and  Agents,  together  with  cheerful  co-opera- 
tion on  the  part  of  ministers  and  churches. 

Rev.  A.  D.  Gillette,  as  Secretary  of  the  Sunday  School 
Convention,  called  at  the  instance  of  the  Hudson  River 
Association,  and  which  had  just  held  its  meetings  in  Oliver 
Street,  was  requested  to  read  their  minutes,  which  he  did ; 
and  it  was  found  that  there  was  a  remarkable  coincidence 
of  views  between  the  Convention  and  the  Board  of  the 
Tract  Society.  The  Constitution  prepared  by  the  Com- 
mittee of  the  Convention,  and  reported  through  Bro.  C. 
G.  Sommers,  was  then  read,  and  considered  article  by 
article,  and  adopted  with  the  utmost  unanimity,  by  vote  on 
the  following  resolutions : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  Constitution  of  the  Baptist  General 
Tract  Society,  be  so  amended  as  to  read  as  follows  :* 

"  Resolved,  That  all  persons  who  are  now  Life  Members 

*  CONSTITUTION. 

ART.  1.  The  name  of  this  Society  shall  be— "The  American  Baptist 
Publication  and  Sunday-School  Society."  Its  object  shall  be,  to  publish 
such  books  as  are  needed  by  the  Baptist  Denomination,  and  to  promote 
Sunday-Schools  by  such  measures  as  experience  may  prove  expedient. 


118  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

or  Life  Directors  of  the  Baptist  General  Tract  Society, 
shall  be  entitled  to  all  the  privileges  heretofore  belonging 
to  them,  and  be  considered  as  Life  Members  and  Life 

ART.  2.  Any  person  may  become  a  member  of  this  Society  by  paying, 
annually,  the  sum  of  one  dollar  or  more ;  a  Life  Member  by  the  payment, 
at  one  time,  of  twenty  dollars ;  and  a  Life  Director  by  the  payment,  at 
one  time,  of  fifty  dollars. 

ART.  3.  There  shall  be  a  public  Anniversary  Meeting  of  the  Society 
at  such  time  in  the  month  of  April  or  May  of  each  year,  and  at  such 
place,  as  shall  be  appointed  by  the  Board,  when  the  following  officers 
shall  be  chosen  by  ballot,  viz : — a  President,  one  Vice  President  from 
each  of  the  States,  a  Corresponding  Secretary,  who  shall  be  the  Editor 
of  the  Society's  Publications,  a  Recording  Secretary,  a  Treasurer,  and 
twenty-one  other  Members,  all  of  whom  shall  be  members  of  Baptist 
Churches,  who,  together,  shall  be  a  Board  of  Directors  for  the  manage- 
ment of  the  concerns  of  the  Society,  of  whom  five  shall  constitute  a 
quorum.  The  Board  shall  have  power  to  appoint  Agents ;  a  Committee 
of  Publication,  of  not  less  than  five,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  carefully  to 
examine  all  works  proposed  for  publication  by  the  Society,  preparatory 
to  their  being  committed  to  the  Editor  j  and  to  fill  any  vacancy  which 
may  occur  in  its  own  body. 

ART.  4.  The  Directors  shall  superintend  the  publication  and  distribu- 
tion of  such  Books,  Tracts,  and  Periodicals,  as  they  may  approve, — the 
establishment  of  Depositories, — and  the  formation  of  Auxiliary  Societies, 
Ac.  They  shall  hold  frequent  meetings,  under  such  regulations  as  they 
may  adopt,  in  conformity  with  the  general  provisions  of  this  Constitu- 
tion. They  shall  appoint  the  place  and  hour  for  the  Annual  Meeting  of 
the  Society.  The  Directors  and  the  Treasurer  shall  make  an  Annual 
Report  of  their  proceedings. 

ART.  5.  Any  Sunday-School  Union,  or  Society,  or  any  Tract  Society, 
by  forwarding  to  the  Corresponding  Secretary  a  copy  of  their  Annual 
Report,  with  their  Constitution  and  list  of  Officers,  shall  be  considered 
an  Auxiliary.  The  Board  may  grant  special  privileges  to  other  Societies, 
if  they  deem  it  expedient.  Auxiliary  Societies  shall  bo  allowed,  and 
are  requested,  to  send  one  delegate  to  the  Annual  Meeting  of  this 
Society,  to  represent  them,  who  shall  have  the  privileges  of  a  member. 

AKT.  6.  Life  Directors,  Life  Members,  Annual  Subscribers,  and  Aux- 
iliary Societies,  shall  be  entitled  to  purchase  the  Publications  of  the 
Society  at  reduced  prices. 

ART.  7.  The  Corresponding  Secretary  shall  conduct  the  correspondence 
of  the  Society, — shall  superintend  its  publications,  under  the  direction 
of  the  Board,  and  perform  such  other  duties  as  appertain  to  his  office. 


THE   REORGANIZATION.       NEW   NAME.  119 

Directors  of  the  American  Baptist  Publication  and  Sunday- 
School  Society. 

11  JResolved,  That  a  Committee  of  one  from  each  State 
represented,  be  appointed  to  nominate  a  list  of  Officers." 

The  following  were  the  officers  nominated  and  chosen  : 

"President. — Rev.  George  B.  Ide. 

"  Vice  Presidents. — [These  amounted  to  twenty-six — one 
from  every  State  in  the  American  Union,  then  existing, 
from  Maine  to  Louisiana.] 

11  Treasurer. — Win.  W.  Keen. 

"Recording  Secretary. — Wm.  Ford. 

'Board  of  Directors. — Daniel  Dodge,  Charles  B.  Keyes, 
Wm.  Shadrach,  John  Davis,  A.  D.  Gillette,  Isaac  Reed, 
Levi  Knowles,  Jr.,  Richard  Gardiner,  J.  C.  Davis,  W.  S. 
Hansell,  Jacob  Reed,  R.  Tenner,  J.  Jones,  J.  W.  Hayhurst, 
George  Swope,  J.  M.  Linnard,  George  Higgins,  Wilson 
Jewell,  David  Clark." 

The  appointment  of  a  Corresponding  Secretary  was  left 
to  the  Board.  After  several  disappointments,  they  united 
in  calling  to  that  important  office,  Rev.  Morgan  J.  Rhees, 
who  entered  upon  its  duties  November  It,  1841. 

A  new  code  of  By-Laws,  adapted  to  the  new  functions 
of  the  Society,  was  drawn  up,  and  the  requisite  number  of 
Standing  Committees  appointed,  on  Publication,  Finance, 
Accounts,  Appropriations  and  Agency,  at  the  first  meeting 
of  the  new  Board. 

The  number  of  Life  members  was  forty-five,  and  of  Life 

ART.  8.  The  Recording  Secretary  shall  keep  a  record  of  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  Society,  and  of  the  Board  of  Directors. 

ART.  9.  The  Treasurer  shall  receive  all  moneys  intended  for  tho 
Society,  and  shall  give  to  the  President,  for  the  time  being,  satisfactory 
security  for  the  safe  keeping  of  the  funds  committed  to  him. 

ART.  10.  The  President  shall  call  a  meeting  of  the  Society  at  the 
request  of  a  majority  of  the  Board  of  Directors. 

ART.  11.  Any  alterations  of  this  Constitution  may  be  made  at  an 
Annual  Meeting,  by  the  concurrence  of  two-thirds  of  the  members 
present. 


120  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

Directors,  Jive — which  had  been  added  during  the  year : 
making  the  whole  number  of  the  former  653,  and  of  the 
latter  141,  at  the  time  of  the  reorganization  of  the  Society. 


5,  Technical  Errors, 

Two  errors  of  a  technical  character  appear  in  the  So- 
ciety's Report  for  1841.  Its  new  name  and  "amended" 
Constitution,  we  suppose,  led  the  Secretary  to  speak  of  it 
as  a  new  Society,  instead  of  a  continuation  and  expansion 
of  the  Baptist  General  Tract  Society;  although  all  the 
preceding  documents  are  carefully  worded  to  sanction  the 
latter  and  juster  view.  The  change  of  name,  the  enlarge- 
ment of  function,  certainly  did  not  destroy,  nor  was  it 
designed  to  destroy  its  identity.  To  suppose  otherwise, 
seems  very  much  as  if  a  man  whose  name  has  been  changed 
by  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  should  date  the  years  of  his 
life  from  the  time  of  that  event.  It  is  surprising  that  the 
Board  sanctioned  the  error  for  full  ten  years.  The  correct 
phraseology  was  restored  in  the  published  Annual  Report 
of  1853. 

The  other  error,  as  it  seems  to  us,  is,  denominating  the 
Report  of  1841,  "The  Second  Annual  Report  of  the 
Publication  Society."  For,  even  if  it  were  admitted  that 
a  new  Society  was  originated  in  1840,  it  had  never  issued 
a  First  Report  in  its  own  name.  The  proceedings  of  1840 
form  a  part  of  the  Sixteenth  Annual  Report  of  the  Baptist 
General  Tract  Society. 

We  would  not  attach  too  much  importance  to  mere 
names,  but  we  believe,  in  view  of  all  the  antecedents,  the 
Report  of  1841  should  have  appeared  as  the  Seventeenth 
Annual  Report  of  the  (now  called)  American  Baptist 
Publication  Society. 


SEVENTEENTH   ANNUAL   MEETING.  121 


6.  The  Seventeenth  Annual  Meeting,  1841. 

The  Society,  reorganized  under  the  new  Constitution  as 
the  American  Baptist  Publication  and  Sunday-School 
Society,  held  its  Seventeenth  Annual  Meeting  with  the 
Sharp  Street  Church,  Baltimore,  on  Wednesday,  April  28, 
1841,*  the  President,  G.  B.  Ide,  in  the  chair. 

The  Annual  Report  was  read  by  the  Corresponding 
Secretary,  MORGAN  J.  RHEES.  It  opens  with  a  lucid 
exposition  of  the  power  of  the  Religious  Press  as  an  aux- 
iliary to  the  Christian  Ministry.  "  To  millions  the  preacher 
cannot  now,  and  may  not  soon,  have  access ;  to  millions 
more  his  instructions  can  only  be  occasional,  and  at  long 
intervals ;  but  the  Bible  and  its  truth  explained  and  faith- 
fully applied  in  a  religious  Volume,  or  Tract,  will  go  with 
its  possessor  where  he  goes,  be  at  his  fireside  and  in  his 
chamber ;  and  a  still  small  voice  from  its  impressive  pages 
will  whisper  to  the  careless  and  profane,  '  Prepare  to  meet 
thy  God ;'  to  the  anxious  sinner,  '  Believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  thou  shalt  be  saved  ;'  and  to  the  Christian  in 
every  circumstance  it  will  present  the  consolations  and 
encouragements  of  the  Divine  promise. 

"  The  American  Baptist  Publication  and  Sunday  School 
Society  was  organized,  that  the  whole  truth  might  be  more 
speedily  and  more  extensively  circulated  than  it  could  be  by 
individual  enterprise.  It  was  called  for  by  the  wants  of  the 
denomination  as. well  as  the  condition  of  the  world.  A  full 
conviction  of  the  need  of  such  an  organization  influenced 
the  brethren,  who,  a  year  ago,  resolved  to  change  the  Bap- 
tist General  Tract  Society  into  its  present  form  ;  and  the 
spirit  in  which  the  notice  of  the  new  organization  had  been 
received,  is  full  assurance  that  they  had  not  anticipated 

*  Called  by  mistnke,  in  tho  Annual  Report,  the  "Second  Anniversary." 
— See  la.'t  pa«e. — J.  N.  B. 
11 


122  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

the  demands  of  the  churches.  The  resolution  of  the 
Hudson  River  Association,  (which  has  been  responded  to 
by  many  other  associations,)  expressed  the  feeling  of  the 
denomination  on  this  subject  as  far  as  it  has  been  elicited. 

"  ^Resolved,  That  this  Association  regard  the  recent  forma- 
tion of  the  American  Baptist  Publication  and  Sunday- School 
Society  as  an  event  in  the  history  of  our  denomination, 
calling  for  devout  acknowledgment  to  the  God  of  all  grace. 
That  in  the  entire  unanimity  with  which  the  measure  was 
adopted — the  judicious  selection  made  as  to  the  permanent 
location  of  the  Society,  and  the  character  of  the  brethren 
entrusted  with  the  management  of  its  affairs,  we  find  a  sure 
guarantee  of  its  rapid  growth  and  extensive  usefulness ; 
and  we  fondly  cherish  the  hope  that  it  will  ere  long  enjoy 
a  share  in  the  sympathies,  prayers,  and  contributions  of  our 
churches,  on  a  footing  of  equality  with  our  Bible  and  Mis- 
sionary Societies.11 

These  glowing  hopes  were  not  realized.  The  Board 
found  their  means  wholly  inadequate  to  enlarged  Book 
operations — and  the  painful  disappointments  and  delays 
attendant  upon  securing  a  Corresponding  Secretary,  added 
greatly  to  their  embarrassment.  Even  after  the  entrance 
of  Rev.  MORGAN  J.  RHEES  upon  the  office,  Nov.  17,  1840, 
his  labors  were  limited  to  the  settling  of  principles  and 
plans  of  future  action,  and  the  careful  editorial  super- 
intendence of  the  Society's  publications. 

In  the  Book  Department,  where  already  a  good  begin- 
ning had  been  made  in  1839,  by  the  issue  of  Backus's 
Church  History,  Booth's  Reign  of  Grace,  and  Christian 
Memoirs,  there  were  added  during  the  year  1840,  Ilin- 
ton's  History  of  Baptism  (5000  copies),  Jewett  on  Bap- 
tism (1000  copies),  Hall's  Sermon  on  Modern  Infidelity 
(1500  copies);  two  Sunday-School  books — the  Floods, 
and  Gertrude  the  Peace-Maker ;  together  with  a  new 


WEEKLY   BAPTIST    RECORD.  123 

edition  of  the  Baptist  Manual.     A  neat  12mo.  edition  of 
Buuyan's  Pilgrim's  Progress  was  also  stereotyped. 


7.  Want  of  Working  Capital. 

On  one  point  the  Report  speaks  plainly,  and  points  out 
the  absolute  necessity  for  a  greatly  enlarged  working 
capital.  "Several  other  valuable  works  have  been,  and 
are  now  under  consideration,  some  of  which  would  be  at 
once  adopted  and  published  if  the  Society  had  a  fund 
ample  to  meet  the  necessary  expenditures.  Much  delay 
is  experienced  in  consequence  of  this  want  of  funds,  though 
the  hope  is  entertained  that  this  difficulty  will  soon  be  re- 
moved by  the  liberality  of  the  denomination.  Many  of 
our  brethren  would  write  for  the  Press,  if  they  could  re- 
ceive a  reasonable  remuneration  for  the  time  and  labor 
expended ;  and  the  Board  would  gladly  remunerate  them, 
if  their  resources  would  justify  them  in  so  doing." 

Of  Tracts  684,832  pages  were  printed,  and  1,200,000 
circulated ;  but  no  new  Tracts  were  added  to  the  Society's 
series  during  the  year. 

Of  the  Almanac  and  Baptist  Register  for  1841,  8350 
copies  were  printed,  and  about  1000  put  into  circulation. 
It  was  issued  in  November,  from  statistics  hastily  gathered, 
and  consequently  inaccurate. 


8.  Weekly  Baptist  Eecord 

A  more  important  step  was  the  change  of  the  Baptist 
Record,  from  a  semi-monthly  to  a  weekly  paper,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1840.  A  large  increase  of  the  subscription  sus- 


124  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

tained  the  change,  the  circulation  rising  to  3100  copies 
weekly.  As  there  was  no  increase  of  price,  the  paper  re- 
lied for  its  editorial  management  on  the  gratuitous  services 
of  several  of  the  city  pastors,  to  save  it  from  proving  a 
losing  concern.  It  thus  secured  a  valuable  weekly  organ 
of  communication  with  the  churches — especially  in  Penn- 
sylvania, where  no  other  denominational  paper  was  then 
published. 


9.  A  Baptist  Hymn  Book  proposed. 

The  plan  of  a  Hymn  Book  for  the  whole  denomination 
was  under  advisement  by  the  Board,  which  should  be  not 
only  adapted  to  the  wants  of  the  churches,  but  being  held 
as  denominational  property  might  come  into  common  use. 
The  whole  question  was  referred  to  the  judgment  of  the 
denomination. 

No  agencies  of  importance  were  undertaken.  A  few 
volunteer  efforts  only  were  made. 


10.  Work  of  Colportage.     First  in  America. 

But  the  most  interesting  item  in  this  Report  is  that 
which  reveals  the  commencement  of  its  great  constitutional 
work  of  COLPORTAGE.  In  this  work,  it  appears  from  the 
documents,  that  the  American  Baptist  Publication  Society 
has  the  honor  of  taking  the  lead  in  this  country.  While 
on  this  subject  THE  AMERICAN  TRACT  SOCIETY  was  yet 
slumbering,  our  feeble  Society  was  awake  and  moving. 
Nearly  a  year  before  the  American  Tract  Society  held  its 
first  informal  meeting  to  discuss  the  question  of  COL- 
POIITAUE,  this  Society  had  settled  the  question,  and  entered 


WORK   OF   COLPORTAGE.  125 

ii  in  its  Constitution  as  one  of  the  grand  levers  of  its  future 
movements.  Under  the  name  of  "  traveling  agents,"  as  we 
have  already  seen,  this  new  feature  of  its  system  was 
announced.  The  technical  name  of  Colporteurs  appears 
for  the  first  time  in  any  regular  American  document,  in  our 
Annual  Report  of  labor  performed  for  1840-41.  Under 
this  head  we  read  the  following  remarks  : 

"  Colporteurs.  A  few  traveling  agents,  upon  the  Col- 
porteur system,  have  been  employed.  The  amount  of 
their  business  has  not  been  extensive ;  but  the  Board  be- 
lieve that  when  this  system  can  be  brought  more  largely 
into  operation,  particularly  at  the  South  and  West,  it  will 
effect  great  good.  It  will  require  a  large  increase  of 
capital  to  enable  the  Board  to  use  this  system  as  extensively 
as  they  wish.  When  this  is  furnished,  an  experiment  can 
be  made,  which  will  test  the  feasibility  of  the  plan ;  and 
which  we  think  will  prove  it  to  be  a  most  important  means 
of  doing  good. " 

But  alas,  the  large  increase  of  capital  demanded  for 
this  branch  of  its  operations,  and  essential  to  its  high  effi- 
ciency, was  strangely  withheld  by  the  denomination  ;  and  the 
great  power  of  COLPORTAGE  soon  passed  mainly  into  other 
hands.  The  first  became  last,  and  the  last  first.  Such  is 
the  righteous  and  inflexible  law  of  Christ's  kingdom. 
When  shall  we  learn  wisdom  ? 

Thirteen  Life  Directors  were  added  by  the  payment  of 
$50  each,  and  eighteen  Life  Members  by  the  payment  of 
$20  each. 

The  receipts  from  all  sources  amounted  to  $12,165.71  ; 
when  full  $100,000  was  really  needed,  at  once,  to  put  the 
Society  into  its  proper  working  power.  Had  the  churches 
met  this  necessity  nobly  and  promptly,  what  a  different 
history  might  have  been  here  recorded  !  What  a  different 
aspect  would  to-day  have  been  seen  over  the  whole  denomi- 
nation !  Works  would  have  been  accomplished  in  five 
11* 


126  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 

years,  which  yet  remain  in  a  hopeless  attitude  at  the  end 
of  fifteen  or  sixteen  weary  years  of  delay.  Time,  toil, 
sacrifice,  anxiety,  harmony,  reputation,  power,  usefulness, 
how  have  they  been  wasted  by  exhaustion  and  faintness  at 
this  vital  centre  of  the  Society's  operations  ! 

The  expenditure  of  the  year  was  $11,428.29  ;  leaving  a 
balance  of  $131.48,  and  a  total  of  property  of  all  sorts 
belonging  to  the  Society  of  $8,300.31.  And  this  was  all 
we  had  to  represent  before  the  world  the  entire  publication 
strength  of  a  denomination,  consisting  at  that  time  of  about 
8000  churches,  and  600,000  communicants,  with  a  popu- 
lation of  not  less  than  three  millions — equal  to  that  of  the 
entire  nation  when  it  entered  upon  the  great  struggle  of 
the  American  Revolution  !  What  sort  of  an  army  could 
have  been  raised  and  equipped  at  that  crisis,  for  the  sum 
of  $8000,  or  even  $12,000! 


11.  Counting  the  Cost  of  the  -Enterprise. 

The  Report  of  1841  closes  with  the  following  effort  to 
rouse  the  denomination  to  "count  the  cost"  of  this  great 
enterprise. 

"  In  conclusion,  the  Board  feel  it  to  be  their  duty  to  say, 
that  if  the  denomination  expect  the  Society  to  prosper,  and 
to  effect  the  object  of  its  organization,  a  considerable  amount 
of  capital  is  required.  There  should  be  enough  to  enable 
the  Board  to  invite  brethren  to  give  attention  to  the  talent 
they  possess,  and  furnish  books  on  important  topics,  ex- 
pecting to  be  reasonably  remunerated  for  their  work ;  there 
should  be  enough  to  publish  the  books  thus  fnrnishi-d,  and 
pny  the  printer,  and  the  paper-maker,  and  the  binder  when 
the  work  is  finished ;  there  should  be  enough  to  enable  the 
Board  to  employ  competent  and  trustworthy  brethren  to 


COUNTING    THE   COST   OF   THE   ENTERPRISE.  127 

distribute  the  books  thus  published  in  all  parts  of  the  land, 
allowing  them  a  liberal  compensation  for  their  services. 
When  this  is  supplied,  the  operations  of  the  Society  will 
sustain  themselves,  without  making  further  demands  upon 
the  liberality  of  the  churches,  except  for  such  free  grants  as 
may  occasionally  be  called  for  to  supply  missionary  stations 
and  other  extremely  destitute  places.  These  would  be 
usually  met  by  regular  receipts  from  auxiliaries  for  these 
objects,  so  that  no  appeal  would  be  required  for  help  to 
sustain  the  Society.  In  this  it  differs  from  every  other 
benevolent  enterprise.  Once  liberally  establish  it,  and  it 
will  perpetuate  itself. 

"Can  this  be  done  ?  An  average  of  ten  cents  from  each 
communicant  of  our  churches  ($60,000)  would  do  it.  A 
Life  Membership  established  by  each  of  our  churches 
($160,000)  would  do  it,  and  at  the  same  time  would  furnish 
them  with  an  amount  of  religious  reading,  the  good  results 
of  which  are  incalculable.  And  can  not,  and  will  not  this 
be  done  ?  Will  our  brethren  who  are  able  to  furnish  the 
means  suffer  the  Society  to  remain  so  restricted  in  its 
resources  and  in  its  operations,  for  want  of  the  means  of 
increase  ?  We  propose  the  question.  We  commend  you, 
in  preparing  your  answer,  to  the  consideration  of  the  final 
account  to  be  rendered  of  your  stewardship,  and  only  ask 
that  it  may  be  such  as  will  then  secure  to  you  the  testi- 
mony, '  they  have  done  what  they  could. '  " 

The  Annual  Report  was  sustained  by  Dr.  W.  B.  John- 
son, of  South  Carolina,  seconded  by  E.  Kingsford,  and 
ordered  for  publication.  On  motion  of  S.  W.  Lynd,  of 
Cincinnati,  seconded  by  T.  F.  Caldicott,  of  Roxbury, 
Mass.,  it  was, 

"  Resolved,  That  the  objects  of  the  American  Baptist 
Publication  and  Sunday-School  Society  are  highly  im- 
portant to  the  promotion  of  the  cause  of  truth,  and  com- 
mend it  to  the  fervent  prayers  and  liberal  contributions  of 


128  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

the  Baptist  denomination,  that  they  may  speedily  be  ac- 
complished." 

On  motion  of  J.  Tinsley,  of  Charlottesville,  Ya.,  it  was, 
after  much  discussion, 

"  Resolved,  That  it  is  desirable  that  our  whole  denomi- 
nation should  use,  in  the  praises  of  the  sanctuary,  the  same 
Psalms  and  Hymns  and  Spiritual  Songs;  and  that  to 
effect  this  object,  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  American 
Baptist  Publication  and  Sunday-School  Society  be  advised 
to  take  measures  for  the  publication  of  a  denominational 
Hymn  Book." 


12.  Eighteenth  Annual  Meeting,  1842. 

The  Society  held  its  next  Annual  Meeting  with  the 
First  Baptist  Church,  in  New  York  city,  Wednesday, 
April  27,  1842.  G.  B.  Ide,  President,  in  the  chair.  Re- 
ceipts for  the  year,  $12,778.05  ;  expenditures,  $12,489.12. 
Balance  on  hand,  $288.93.  The  Corresponding  Secretary, 
M.  J.  RIIEES,  read  the  Annual  Report  of  the  Board.  It 
opens  with  a  just  complaint : 

"  The  Publication  Cause  has  not  received  from  our  de- 
nomination that  measure  of  support  to  which  it  is  entitled. 
In  some  of  the  departments  of  Christian  benevolence  a 
good  degree  of  liberality  has  been  manifested,  and  the 
appeals  which  have  been  presented  have  met  a  cheerful 
response.  In  many  churches  systematized  eflbrls  are  made 
for  their  support  and  increase ;  but  the  instances  are  rare 
indeed,  in  which  this  cause  is  regarded  as  worthy  of  a 
place  in  such  systematic  contributions.  All  that  is  con- 
tributed comes  from  a  few  individuals,  who  feel  the  im- 
porianee  of  such  efforts  to  ciivulalt-  thu  truth,  or  is  elicited 
in  small  amounts  by  the  personal  and  earnest  appeals  of 
Agents  engaged  in  this  enterprise.  These  contributions,  in 


PLANS  FORMED,  BUT  DELAYED.          129 

the  most  favorable  times,  would  not  be  sufficient  to  sustain 
an  enterprise  requiring  a  large  capital  on  which  to  work, 
and  in  the  present  distressing  state  of  monetary  affairs, 
they  supply  almost  nothing. 

"  It  cannot  then  surprise  the  Society  that  little  has  been 
accomplished.  The  wonder  is  that  any  thing  has  been 
done — that  the  unoiled  machinery  has  not  broken  down — 
not  that  it  creaks,  as  it  moves  heavily  in  its  progress. 

"  Other  denominations  do  not  permit  their  Publication 
department  to  suffer,  nor  do  they  esteem  it  second  to  any 
other  in  importance.  They  furnish  liberally  the  means  to 
circulate  their  views  of  truth ;  and  the  PRESS,  with  all  its 
mighty  power,  is  kept  busily  occupied  in  supplying  to  their 
Agents  the  material  with  which  their  own  opinions  and 
feelings  are  to  be  transferred  to,  and  interwoven  with  the 
judgments  and  the  feelings  of  their  fellow  men. 

"  We  have  had  to  refuse  numerous  applications  for  our 
publications  to  be  kept  on  sale,  and  have  thus  doubtless 
lost  the  sale  of  very  many  books.  But  experience  has 
taught  us  that  it  is  far  better  to  keep  out  of  debt,  than  by 
enlarging  our  business  to  involve  the  Society  in  an  em- 
barrassing amount  of  obligation." 

A  12mo.  edition  of  the  Pilgrim's  Progress,  of  3000  copies, 
and  an  equal  number  of  Howell  on  Communion,  had  been, 
issued  during  the  year.  Two  editions  of  Dr.  Fuller's  Ser- 
mon on  "  The  Power  of  the  Cross,"  a  small  Sunday-School 
book  called  "  Father's  Apples,"  and  a  "  Catechism  for 
Children  in  Three  Parts." 


13.  Plans  Formed,  but  Delayed 

Plans  had  been  formed  by  the  Board  for  the  issue  of  a 
series  of  volumes   in  uniform   style,  to   be  called   "  The 


130  AMERICAN    BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

Baptist  Family  Library."  Also  for  a  series  of  Sunday- 
School  books,  composing  a  Baptist  Sunday-School  Library. 
Several  other  publications,  also  approved  by  the  Board, 
were  all  kept  back  for  the  same  reason — the  want  of  funds. 
Towards  the  expense  of  publishing  Fuller's  Works,  $855 
had  been  subscribed. 

Six  new  Tracts,  and  one  occasional  Tract,  had  been 
added  to  the  series,  making  the  number  167.  Four  num- 
bers of  a  series  of  Illustrated  Tracts  for  Children,  designed 
for  distribution  in  Sabbath-Schools  and  in  families.  Also 
5000  copies  of  a  Sunday-School  Teacher's  Address  to 
Parents,  an  occasional  Tract.  Tracts  printed  during  the 
year,  88,632,  containing  1,006,656  pages;  gratuitously 
distributed,  320,160  pages. 

The  Baptist  Record  had  been  continued  weekly,  with  an 
issue  of  3300  copies,  and  without  loss ;  and  10,000  copies 
of  the  Almanac  had  been  published  and  sold. 

Negotiations  had  been  opened  for  the  preparation  of  a 
Baptist  Hymn  Book  of  a  high  character. 

Rev.  J.  M.  Peck  had  labored  as  an  Agent  in  the 
Western  States  for  several  months,  both  for  this  and  the 
newly  formed  auxiliary  Western  Baptist  Publication  So- 
ciety, whose  scat  is  Louisville,  Ky. 

A  few  Colporteurs  had  been  employed  in  Kentucky  and 
Tennessee ;  more  might  have  been  profitably  engaged  but 
for  want  of  funds. 


14.  Waste  of  Energy,  Time,  and  Means. 

Thus  the  want  of  funds  is  found  to  cripple  and  confound 
every  movement.  And  the  Board  close  their  Report  with 
another  urgent  representation  of  this  deplorable  fact.  "  It 
i.  ruin,"  they  say,  "to  conceal  the  fact,  thai  unless  our 
operations  are  enlarged,  U  is  tilm<mi  tiaefati  fn  utiriupt  any 


THE   QUESTION   OF   LIFE   OR   DEATH.  131 

thing.  The  small  amount  that  is  done  requires  the  occu- 
pancy of  as  much  care  and  talent,  and  the  expenditure  of 
almost  as  much  in  salaries  and  expenses,  as  would  suffice 
for  these  things  if  a  much  larger  business  were  carried  on. 
And  it  is  in  vain  to  hope  that  the  requisite  talent  can  be 
secured  and  confined  to  so  limited  and  inefficient  an 
operation. 


15.  The  Question  of  Life  or  Death. 

11  But  must  we  then  let  the  Society  die  ?  By  no  means. 
It  would  be  a  disgrace  to  us  as  a  denomination,  able  as  we 
are  to  sustain  it ;  and  worse  than  this,  it  would  be  a  serious 
injury  to  the  cause  of  true  religion.  Let  it  die,  and  where 
is  the  counteracting  influence  to  the  errors  which  are  so 
widely  circulated  ?  Oral  instruction  can  never  follow  to 
every  fireside  the  tracts  and  volumes  which  are  scattered 
with  almost  wasteful  profusion  by  the  enemy  of  all  right- 
eousness. The  Society  then  must  live.  And  that  it  may 
live,  there  must  be  more  prayerful  liberality  exhibited  in 
its  behalf,  by  those  who  have  an  abundance  of  the  necessary 
means  for  its  support. 

"  We  ought  to  enlarge  our  Tract  operations,  both  in  the 
number  of  new  Tracts  published,  and  in  the  quantity 
distributed. 

"  We  ought  to  carry  out  the  contemplated  plans  of 
Family  and  Sunday-School  Libraries ;  and  to  add  to  each 
of  these  series  one  dozen  good  and  valuable  publications 
during  the  year. 

"  We  ought  to  have  a  capital  secured  which  would  enable 
us  to  make  that  increase,  and  put  in  operation  plans  to 
secure  for  us  and  for  the  world  some  works  of  incalculable 
value,  which  will  require  much  time  and  expense  in  their 
preparation. 


132  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

"  We  ought  to  have  a  sufficient  number  of  faithful  and 
competent  Colporteurs  to  visit  all  the  destitute  parts  of  our 
country,  and  leave  with  the  inhabitants  Books  and  Tracts, 
which  might  point  them  to  the  Saviour  and  teach  them 
their  duty. 

"And  last,  though  perhaps  not  least  in  importance,  we 
ought  to  be  enabled  to  supply  our  Missionary  Societies 
throughout  the  world,  with  a  sufficient  amount  of  publica- 
tions to  meet  the  numerous  demands  upon  them. 

"  And  can  we  not  do,  and  have,  these  things  ?  Is  it  so 
utterly  beyond  our  power,  that  we  are  prepared  to  go  up 
to  the  judgment  and  plead  that  we  could  not  meet  the 
claims  upon  us  ?  Let  us  first  know  what  it  will  cost.  We 
repeat,  that  TEN  cents  from  each  communicant,  would  lay 
the  foundation  firm  and  sure  for  its  ultimate  accomplish- 
ment. Who  cannot  give  this  ?  And  if  there  are  those 
who  will  not,  cannot  the  remainder  make  up  the  defi- 
ciency ? 

"Brethren,  the  work  is  to  be  done,  and  it  will  be  done! 
God's  purposes  will  be  accomplished,  and  his  promises  ful- 
filled, and  the  results  will  be  brought  about  by  human 
agency.  We  may  hold  our  peace.  We  may  altogether 
refuse  our  aid ;  yet  will  there  enlargement  and  deliverance 
arise  from  another  quarter.  But  we,  so  highly  favored, 
and  yet  so  ungrateful ;  we,  who  know  our  duty,  but  who 
do  it  not,  will  be  removed  out  of  the  way ;  and  the  curse 
of  Meroz  may  fearfully  fall  upon  us,  because  we  came  not 
up  to  the  help  of  the  Lord,  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  against 
the  mi<//i/i/." 

This  stirring  Report — full  of  such  humiliating  yet  unde- 
niable truth,  was  adopted  by  the  Society,  after  a  most 
effective  address  from  J.  M.  Peck,  of  Illinois.  It  was 
iiiiiiH-diately  succeeded  by  the  following  resolution,  moved 
by  R.  Babcock,  and  seconded  by  T.  0.  Lincoln,  accom- 
panied by  appropriate  addresses : 


NINETEENTH   ANNUAL   MEETING.  133 

"  Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  churches 
throughout  our  land,  to  contribute  during  the  present  year 
to  the  funds  of  the  American  Baptist  Publication  and 
Sunday- School  Society,  a  sum  equal  to  ten  cents  for  each 
member,  to  establish  a  PUBLISHING  FUND,  or  CAPITAL,  with 
which  the  important  designs  of  the  Society  may  be  carried 
into  execution." 

In  the  choice  of  officers  for  the  year,  RUFUS  BABCOCK, 
Jr.,  was  chosen  President;  WM.  W.  KEEN,  Treasurer; 
MORGAN  J.  RHEES,  Corresponding  Secretary ;  and  ARTHUR 
P.  DREW,  Recording  Secretary,  in  place  of  Dr.  Wilson 
Jewell,  resigned. 


16.  Nineteenth  Annual  Meeting,  1843. 

The  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Society  for  1843,  was  held 
April  26,  with  the  Pearl  Street  Church,  Albany;  the 
President,  Rufus  Babcock,  D.D.,  in  the  chair.  F.  Way- 
land,  D.  Benedict,  and  J.  Dowling  appeared  as  delegates 
from  the  Rhode  Island  Baptist  State  Convention. 

The  Treasurer's  Report  showed  that  the  attempt,  or 
rather  recommendation,  of  the  preceding  year,  to  raise  a 
PERMANENT  FUND  for  Publication,  by  means  of  an  average 
contribution  of  TEN  CENTS  per  member  from  our  churches, 
had  proved  an  utter  failure.  Instead  of  $60,000  or  $70,000, 
to  have  been  obtained  in  this  way,  it  appeared  that  the 
entire  contributions  of  the  year  amounted  to  only  $1,550.95  ; 
and  the  receipts  from  all  sources  to  but  $9,906.04 ;  including 
$1,371.16  for  the  BUILDING  FUND,  employed  as  a  loan, 
reducing  the  actual  receipts  to  "$8,553.38  ;  while  the  appro- 
priations were  $9,869.27,  leaving  a  balance  of  $37.27. 
12 


134  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 


17.  Common  Mistakes  as  to  the  Society.     Its  Great  Object. 

The  Annual  Report  of  the  Board,  prepared  by  MORGAN 
J.  RHEES,  late  Corresponding  Secretary,  (but  resigned), 
was  read  by  J.  M.  PECK,  just  elected  as  his  successor.  It 
turns  mainly  and  strongly  on  the  painful  fact  of  the 
failure  in  regard  to  funds.  The  extraordinary  financial 
pressure  over  the  country  is  not  deemed  sufficient  to  account 
for  it.  The  very  superfluities  of  Baptist  living,  it  is 
urged,  would  have  been  ample  to  furnish  a  permanent 
working  capital  to  their  Denominational  Publication  So- 
ciety. Hence  it  is  justly  inferred  that  the  cause  lies  deeper 
— far  deeper.  The  calm  inference  from  the  facts  is  thus 
stated : 

"The  great  objects  of  the  Publication  Society  do  not 
seem  to  have  been  rightly  understood,  or  properly  appre- 
ciated, by  our  denomination,  if  we  may  judge  from  the 
amount  of  liberality  manifested  for  their  attainment.  Some 
have  looked  upon  the  Society  as  a  mere  organization  for 
the  transaction  of  a  business,  admitted  to  be  important, 
but  yet  expected  to  maintain  itself  by  its  own  operations. 
All  its  expenditures  have  been  measured  by  the  amount  of 
its  business,  and  not  by  the  ENDS  which  were  to  be  aimed 
at ;  and  if  the  profits  upon  the  mere  sales  did  not  defray 
them  all,  it  has  been  considered  as  a  losing  concern,  and 
those  engaged  in  its  management,  and  those  receiving  com- 
pensation for  services  rendered  to  it,  have  been  esteemed  as 
thriftless  in  their  expenditures,  or  as  receiving  an  unearned 
compensation  from  its  treasury.  This  view  of  the  subject 
has  tended  to  dry  up  the  streams  of  Christian  benevolence, 
which  ought  to  have  flowed  into  it,  and  thus  prevent  or 
greatly  hinder  the  accomplishment  of  the  primary  designs 
of  the  Society. 

"  The  Constitution  provides,  that  '  Its  object  shall  be  to 


MEANS   NECESSARY   TO   ACCOMPLISH   ITS   OBJECT.      135 

publish  such  books  as  are  needed  by  the  Baptist  Denomina- 
tion, and  to  promote  Sunday-Schools  by  such  measures  as 
experience  may  prove  to  be  expedient :'  in  other  words,  to 
provide  and  put  in  circulation  a  Sunday-School  and  general 
literature  for  the  denomination.  That  this  object  is  im- 
portant, all  will  admit ;  and  when  we  contemplate  the  means 
by  which  it  is  to  be  effected,  the  importance  of  the  Society 
as  the  instrument,  and  of  large  resources  with  which  to 
work,  will  be  apparent. 


18.  The  Means  necessary  to  accomplish  its  Object. 

"In  providing  this  literature,  or  publishing  the  books 
required  by  the  denomination,  the  agency  of  the  Press  is 
needed  to  a  very  large  extent.  It  is  not  to  publish  a  small 
book,  or  a  Tract  once  in  a  while,  that  will  supply  the  wants 
of  700,000  Baptist  communicants,  and  the  population  of  the 
country  connected  with  them,  with  religious  reading ;  the 
Press  must  be  kept  constantly  employed.  Reprints  of 
standard  works  written  by  our  fathers,  or  of  modern  works 
of  value  issued  by  our  brethren  in  the  old  world  ;  and  the 
publication  of  original  works  prepared  for  the  Society  by 
those  who  have  been  gifted  for  the  task,  upon  every  point 
of  Gospel  doctrine  and  practice,  upon  every  subject  con- 
nected with  the  past  history,  the  present  efforts,  and  the 
future  prospects  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  in  styles  adapted 
to  the  learned  and  the  illiterate,  to  the  maturest  capacities 
of  the  aged  and  the  immature  but  expanding  faculties  of 
the  young,  are  necessary  ;  and  these,  too,  published  in  suffi- 
cient quantities  to  supply  the  wants  of  the  vast  multitudes 
who  look  to  us  for  instruction  upon  every  subject  pertaining 
to  the  religion  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

"  This  it  will  be  seen  will  require  a  large  expenditure  of 


136  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 

funds,  merely  to  procure  the  materials  and  keep  the  Press 
in  motion ;  and  will  engage  the  time  and  energies  of  many 
more  persons  than  have  ever  yet  been  employed  by  this 
Society. 

"  But  this  is  not  all.  The  books  t*hus  published  are  to 
be  circulated,  or  the  object  of  their  publication  cannot  be 
realized.  Nor  can  their  circulation  be  secured  by  any 
existing  facilities.  Some  can  be  disposed  of  at  the  Deposi- 
tories of  the  Society,  or  by  booksellers  who  may  be  disposed 
to  encourage  their  sale.  The  quantity,  however,  must 
necessarily  be  limited  ;  and  those  which  are  thus  sent  forth 
will  not  reach  the  mass  of  those  by  whom  they  are  most 
needed,  and  for  whose  especial  benefit  they  are  published. 
They  must  be  carried  to  them,  and  sold  where  they  can  be, 
and  given  away  where  there  is  either  indisposition  or 
inability  to  purchase. 

"  There  needs  to  be  (at  the  least)  an  average  of  two  or 
three  efficient  Colporteurs  in  each  State  of  our  Union,  who 
with  an  ample  supply  of  these  publications,  should  visit 
every  church,  every  Sunday- School,  and  every  family  in  the 
land,  and  who  shall  not  be  dependent  on  their  sales  for 
their  maintenance,  but  who  shall  receive  salaries  as  mis- 
sionaries, and  be  accountable  for  all  the  sales  they  effect ; 
while  each  one  should  be  authorized  to  give  away  (within 
certain  limits)  where  he  discovers  that  the  Cross  of  Christ 
could  be  promoted  by  this  course.  These  Colporteurs  may 
often  be  laymen,  competent  to  all  the  business  transactions 
of  their  station,  and  in  whose  hearts  a  fervent  desire  for 
the  prosperity  of  Zion  and  the  salvation  of  souls  has  been 
kindled  by  the  Divine  Spirit,  leading  them  to  deny  them- 
selves, and  to  spend  their  lives  in  doing  good  to  their 
perishing  fellow  men.  But  frequently,  and  especially  in 
tin;  West  and  South,  onr  traveling  ministers  and  missiona- 
ries will  do  the  work  witli  excellent  effect.  Every  Metho- 
dist circuit  and  stationed  preacher  is  a  Colporteur  for  their 


WORK   OF   THE   YEAR.  137 

"Book  Concern,"  and  is  constantly  supplying  the  people 
among  whom  he  labors  with  the  publications  of  that  denomi- 
nation. The  Free  Will  Baptists  of  the  North  do  the  same. 
The  efficiency  and  influence  of  our  traveling  ministers  would 
be  increased  by  this  measure. 

"  The  amount  of  sales  effected  would  probably  keep  up 
a  supply  of  the  books  disposed  of ;  but  the  expense  of  sus- 
taining the  Colporteurs,  of  furnishing  books  for  gratuitous 
distribution,  of  publishing  the  first  editions  of  new  works, 
and  of  managing  the  machinery  of  the  whole  operations  at 
home,  should  be  derived  from  the  benevolence  of  the  dis- 
ciples of  Christ,  to  whom  he  has  entrusted  the  silver  and  the 
gold,  saying,  '  Occupy  till  I  come. ' 

"  This  also,  it  will  at  once  be  perceived,  will  require  a 
large  amount  of  funds ;  without  which  the  object  of  the 
Society  can  never  be  more  than  partially  accomplished. 
But  is  not  the  object  of  sufficient  magnitude,  is  not  the 
amount  of  good  to  be  effected  by  these  means,  sufficiently 
great  to  justify  this  expenditure  ?  What  instrumentality 
can  we  exert  or  employ,  which  gives  such  glorious  pro- 
mise? 

"  Amidst  all  that  was  discouraging,  the  Board  have  not 
dared  to  abandon  the  objects  for  which  the  Society  was 
reorganized.  They  have  endeavored  to  persevere,  cheered 
by  the  hope  that  the  churches  would  come  to  their  help, 
and  furnish  the  means  to  supply  the  wide  field  of  destitu- 
tion in  our  own  and  other  lands. " 


19.  Work  of  the  Year. 

And  what  had  they  been  able  to  accomplish  of  the  great 

work  of  which  they  had  given  so  lucid  an  exposition  ?    Six 

12mo.  books,  bound  as  the  first  of  the  "Baptist  Family 

Library."    Three  small  volumes  issued  for  Sunday- Schools, 

12* 


138  AMERICAN   BATTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 

"Memoir  of  Mrs.  Eliza  G.  Jones,"  "The  Spiritual  Yoy. 
age,"  and  "Effie  Maurice,"  an  illustration  of  the  First 
Commandment.  One  new  Tract,  "God  and  Mammon," 
added  to  the  series,  and  two  occasional  Tracts  transferred 
to  it.  Tracts  printed,  95,640  copies,  containing  1,262,680 
pages;  and  158,000  pages  of  Tracts  and  books  to  the 
value  of  $15*7.74,  gratuitously  distributed.  Of  the  Baptist 
Record,  3000  copies,  and  of  the  Almanac,  11,000  circu- 
lated. An  arrangement  also,  entered .  into  with  Gould, 
Kendall,  and  Lincoln,  for  the  preparation  and  joint  issue 
of  a  denominational  Hymn  Book.  Two  Agents,  M. 
J.  Rhees  and  J.  M.  Peck,  employed  a  few  months  of  the 
year.  Yery  little  Colporteur  agency,  for  want  of  stock  to 
supply,  and  funds  to  support, the  Colporteurs.  Such  is  the 
sum  of  the  year's  work  by  our  Society,  representing  the 
strength  of  the  Baptist  community  in  the  United  States  1 
A  gratuitous  provision  was  recommended  of  $10  Libraries 
for  Poor  Ministers. 

The  former  Corresponding  Secretary,  Mr.  Rhees,  having 
resigned  on  the  ground  that  the  necessities  of  the  Society 
demanded  a  traveling  Financial  Secretary,  Rev.  JOHN  M. 
PECK,  of  Illinois,  had  been  chosen  his  successor. 


20.  New  Resolutions. 

The  Report  of  the  Board  was  accepted,  on  motion  of 
D.  Benedict,  of  Pawtucket,  and  ordered  to  be  published. 
The  following  resolutions  were  adopted  on  motion  of  Wm. 
Hague  and  J.  E.  Welch. 

"  Resolved,   That  in   view   of   the  corrupt  and  demo- 

ralixing  lilrmture  of  the  age,  sent  forth  like  a  desolating 

flood  over  our  whole  country,  our  denomination  needs  a 

nl  .supply  of  sound  religious  Books  and   Tracts,  to 


NEW   RESOLUTIONS.  139 

preserve  the  minds  of  our  numerous  converts  from  the 
errors  to  which  they  are  exposed,  and  train  them  up  in 
holiness  and  active  service  in  our  benevolent  under- 
takings." 

"  Resolved,  That  the  project  of  providing  our  destitute 
ministers  and  missionaries  in  the  Western  Yalley  with 
small  Libraries,  is  an  object  of  paramount  importance  in 
the  operations  of  the  Society,  and  deserves  the  cordial  co- 
operation of  the  benevolent. " 

On  motion  of  Wm.  Crane  of  Baltinore,  the  sympathies 
and  thanks  of  the  Society  were  tendered  to  the  late  Trea- 
surer, W.  W.  Keen,  "  for  the  faithfulness  and  correctness 
with  which  he  had  gratuitously  discharged  the  duties  of 
the  office  for  many  years  past." 

On  motion  of  J.  S.  Bacon,  of  Charlestown,  Mass.,  the 
Board  was  authorized  and  instructed  to  so  arrange  the 
Editorial  labors,  as  they  might  deem  expedient,  to  enable 
the  Corresponding  Secretary  to  devote  a  portion  of  his 
time  to  traveling  as  General  Agent. 

On  motion  of  J.  M.  Peck,  Resolved,  That  we  renew  the 
recommendation  to  the  churches  throughout  our  land,  to 
contribute  to  the  funds  of  this  Society  a  sum  equal  to  ten 
cents  annually  for  each  member,  to  provide  a  Publishing 
Fund ;  so  as  to  enable  the  Board  to  supply  Colporteurs  and 
other  persons  with  publications  for  sale ;  and  also  to  fur- 
nish donations  in  Books  and  Tracts  to  Sunday-Schools, 
missionaries,  and  others  who  need  help. 

A  final  resolution,  bore  cordial  testimony  to  the  fidelity 
and  zeal  of  the  late  Corresponding  Secretary,  Rev.  Morgan 
J.  Rhees,  together  with  his  uniformly  kind  and  Christian 
spirit. 

In  the  choice  of  officers,  RUFUS  BABCOCK  was  re-elected 
President ;  J.  B.  TREVOR  was  chosen  Treasurer ;  J.  M. 
PECK,  Corresponding  Secretary;  LEVI  KNOWLES,  Jr., 
Recording  Secretary.  No  other  changes  of  importance 


140  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

are  found  in  the  Board,  nor  in  the  subsequent  Standing 
Committees. 


21.  The  Circular  of  1843. 

In  connection  with  the  Annual  Report,  the  new  Corres- 
ponding Secretary,  J.  M.  PECK,  issued  a  Circular,  dated 
July  10th,  1843,  calling  general  attention  to  certain  salient 
points  of  the  Society's  operations — past,  present,  and 
future. 

The  fact  is  stated  that  the  Baptist  Tract  Society  during 
the  sixteen  years  of  its  operations  raised  and  disbursed 
$86,048 ;  printed  about  3,000,342  Tracts,  including  fifty- 
four  million  of  pages;  making  seven  bound  volumes  of 
between  300  and  400  pages  each. 

PARAMOUNT   OBJECT. 

The  paramount  object  of  the  Society,  to  the  attainment 
of  which  all  our  aims  and  measures  should  be  steadfastly 
directed,  and  to  the  accomplishment  of  which  our  prayers 
should  be  addressed  to  Him  who  hath  the  residue  of  the 
Spirit,  is,  to  make  our  denomination,  and  all  others  over 
whom  we  have  influence,  a  reading,  thinking,  working, 
and  devotedly  religious  people. 

Next  to  the  voice  of  the  living  teacher,  the  Press  is  the 
instrumentality  to  be  employed.  To  attain  this  great  end 
by  the  Press,  the  Society  proposes  four  leading  measures. 
1.  The  gratuitous  circulation  of  religious  publications  as 
widely  as  possible  among  the  destitute  in  our  own  and  other 
lands.  In  the  Southern  and  Western  States  there  are  thou- 
sands who  can  be  reached  through  the  agency  of  our  denomi- 
nation to  a  far  greater  extent  than  by  others. — 2.  The  publi- 
cation and  distribution  by  sale,  at  low  prices,  of  religious 
books  for  family  and  general  reading.  There  is  a  great  do- 


THE   CIRCULAR   OP    1843  141 

maud  for  such,  South  and  West,  and  even  in  the  Middle 
States.  Thousands  of  volumes  could  be  readily  sold,  and 
would  be  eagerly  read,  if  brought  to  the  people. — 3.  The 
supply  of  our  ministers  with  small  and  select  libraries.  Two 
thousand  Baptist  ministers  at  least  need,  and  would  gladly 
use  them,  if  they  could  get  them.  It  would  warm  them  with 
gratitude  and  double  their  usefulness. — 4.  The  encourage- 
ment of  Sabbath-Schools  and  Bible  classes,  and  supplying 
them  with  small  libraries.  These  are  all  objects  worthy  of 
the  united  efforts  of  the  denomination.  The  Board  can 
accomplish  this  work  no  faster  than  the  means  are  furnished 
by  the  churches. 

FUNDS   WANTED. 

They  must  have  a  permanent  capital  to  do  business. 
Churches,  whether  in  the  city,  the  village,  or  the  country, 
require  a  house  of  worship  and  appendages.  This  is  their 
permanent  capital.  A  College  or  Theological  Seminary 
must  have  a  capital,  laid  out  in  buildings,  apparatus, 
library,  and  the  endowment  of  professorships.  So  with  a 
Publication  Society.  It  cannot  print,  or  purchase  tracts 
and  books,  and  send  them  to  the  extremes  of  the  country, 
without  permanent  capital. 

A  few  hundred  dollars  may  make  and  put  into  circu- 
lation one  book ;  but  it  requires  many  thousands  to  publish 
the  number  and  variety  necessary  to  supply  our  destitute 
churches  and  people,  even  supposing  every  one  is  returned 
to  be  again  sent  out  in  the  form  of  books  and  tracts. 
Suppose  the  Society  employ  100  Colporteurs,  and  fur- 
nish each  with  300  dollars'  worth  of  books — this  would  re- 
quire a  capital  of  $30,000,  (independent  of  the  support  of 
the  Colporteurs',  or  the  payment  of  their  traveling  ex- 
penses.) In  no  other  way  could  $30,000  be  more  bene- 
ficially employed.  They  will  visit  Associations,  Churches, 
Sunday-Schools  and  families;  preach  the  Gospel  to  the 


142  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

destitute ;  inculcate  habits  of  reading,  sober  thought,  and 
devout  practice  ;  thus  providing  a  sort  of  substitute  for  the 
deficient  means  of  pastoral  instruction  in  a  large  number 
of  our  churches,  especially  in  the  Western  Yalley.  This 
is  the  plan  substantially  practiced  by  the  Methodists, 
with  great  efficiency  and  economy.  All  their  circuit 
preachers  are  Colporteurs — and  supply  their  people  and 
others  in  every  part  of  the  United  States  with  their  books. 
And  their  people  have  contributed  liberally,  to  the  amount 
of  two  or  three  hundred  thousand  dollars,  to  build  up  and 
sustain  their  "Book  Concern." 

LOCAL   DEPOSITORIES. 

"We  receive  frequent  applications  for  Depositories  of 
books,  in  states,  districts,  towns,  cities  and  villages.  Such 
Depositories  have  been  tried  in  the  Bible,  Tract,  and 
Sunday  School  operations,  in  every  part  of  the  country, 
and  especially  in  the  Western  Yalley,  at  much  extra  cost, 
and  very  little  good  purpose.  People  from  a  distance 
will  not  resort  to  such  Depositories.  The  sales  are  not 
enough  to  pay  the  expense.  It  would  require  a  capital  of 
at  least  $100,000,  to  establish  these  Depositories  where  the 
people  suppose  they  are  needed. — If  our  brethren  want  a 
stock  of  books  or  tracts  for  local  purposes,  let  them  raise 
the  funds,  send  the  money  to  the  Depository  in  Phila- 
delphia, and  they  will  be  promptly  supplied  at  the  lowest 
rate." 

MUTUAL  CO-OPERATION. 

To  facilitate  the  co-operation  of  our  brethren  in  destitute 
parts  of  the  country,  the  Board  recently  adopted  the 
following  resolution : 

"  Resolved,  That  Auxiliary  or  co-operating  Publication 
Societies,  Associations,  State  Conventions,  and  General 
Associations  in  those  States  and  Territories,  especially  in 


THE   CIRCULAR  OF    1843.  143 

the  "Western  Valley,  that  are  properly  Missionary  ground, 
be  authorized  to  receive  books  to  the  full  amount  of  funds 
contributed,  with  the  understanding  that  they  employ  and 
superintend  the  labors  of  Colporteurs,  or  employ  their 
ministers  for  the  circulation  of  books  and  tracts,  and  the 
formation  of  Sunday  Schools." 

"Will  our  brethren  in  those  parts  raise  and  send  us 
funds  on  the  conditions  proposed  ?  Let  the  books  received 
be  put  in  the  hands  of  such  brethren  as  will  be  responsible 
for  them,  and  return  the  proceeds  (deducting  the  per- 
centage allowed)  to. purchase  more  books.  In  the  Western 
and  Southern  States  we  have  a  numerous  class  of  preachers, 
who,  if  supplied  with  books,  would  make  efficient  Col- 
porteurs." 

These  are  the  leading  points  of  the  Circular,  though 
much  abridged.  It  closes  thus  :  "  We  now  ask  each  hearer 
and  reader  of  this  Address — Will  you  contribute  some- 
thing immediately  to  the  Society  ? — Will  the  Church  or 
Association  to  which  this  Circular  is  addressed,  take  up  a 
public  collection  for  us  ? — Will  you  constitute  your  pastor 
a  Life  Member  by  the  payment  of  -$20  ?  Or  a  Life 
Director  by  a  donation  of  $50  ? — Will  you  become  a  Life 
Member,  or  a  Life  Director  on  these  terms  ?  By  this  you 
may  aid  most  essentially  our  Missionaries  and  other  min- 
isters on  the  frontiers.  You  may  indeed  deprive  yourself 
of  some  trifling  gratification — some  article  of  dress  or 
luxury,  that  in  this  period  of  embarrassment  you  may  have 
the  means  to  do  this ;  but  you  will  create  an  exquisite 
luxury  in  doing  good,  which  will  last  through  life,  and  fill 
your  heart  with  emotions  of  unutterable  joy  and  thankful- 
ness. 

"  On  behalf  of  the  Board,  J.  M.  PECK,  Cor.  Sec." 


144  AMERICAN   BAPTIST  PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 


22.  Appendix  to  the  Circular. 

The  above  Circular  has  an  Appendix  of  very  important 
matter,  entitled,  "  Hints  to  ministers  and  others  who  wish 
to  engage  in  distributing  the  Society's  publications."  We 
cite  only  an  italicized  caution  from  No.  3.  "  In  no  case 
should  a  person  pay  out  money  received  for  books  for 
any  other  purpose,  however  great  and  pressing  may  be  his 
necessities.  It  is  a  dishonest  breach  of  trust,  and  must 
be  treated  accordingly." 

A  second  Appendix  of  a  statistical  character  relates  to 
the  points  desirable  in  getting  out  the  Minutes  of  Associ- 
ations. We  quote  from  No.  4  a  suggestion  equally  im- 
portant now  as  then. 

"  We  need  at  the  Publication  Office  two  copies  of  the 
Minutes  of  each  Association — one  for  our  permanent  file, 
to  be  bound  and  preserved — the  other  to  clip  up  for  our 
periodicals." 


Twentieth  Annual  Meeting. 

The  Annual  Meeting  for  1844,  being  the  Twentieth 
Anniversary  from  its  origin,  was  held  with  the  First  Bap- 
tist Church  in  Philadelphia,  April  24,  in  connection  with 
the  session  of  the  last  Triennial  Convention  ;  the  President, 
R.  Babcock,  D.D.,  in  the  chair.  The  corresponding  Sec- 
retary, J.  M.  PECK,  read  the  Annual  Report  of  the  Board. 
From  the  Report,  it  appears  that  the  operations  of  the 
Society  had  been  increased  about  one-third ;"  not  so  much 
by  the  enlargement  of  funds,  as  by  effecting  more  rapid 
sales" — turning  the  small  and  utterly  inadequate  capital  to 
better  advantage. 

No  new  Tracts  were  issued,  but  394,363  pages  had  been 


THE   PSALMIST.  145 

reprinted  during  the  year.  Two  small  Sunday- School  books, 
"John  Frink"  and  "Father's  Apples,"  were  added  to  the 
series,  and  "  Gertrude  the  Peace-Maker,"  stereotyped. 
"Booth's  Reign  of  Grace,"  "Backus'  Church  History," 
Pengilly,  a  Baptist  Catechism,  and  an  improved  edition 
of  the  Baptist  Manual,  were  reprinted. 


24   The  Psalmist. 

But  the  most  important  issue  was  that  of  the  "  Psalmist," 
in  three  forms  and  various  styles  of  binding,  the  last  of 
August,  1843.  According  to  the  contract  with  Gould, 
Kendall,  and  Lincoln,  "  two  sets  of  stereotype  plates  were 
furnished  the  Society,  for  the  use  of  which  and  the  privilege 
of  copyright,  we  pay  a  perquisite  on  the  copies  we  publish." 
Five  editions,  of  6000  copies  in  all,  met  a  rapid  sale,  while 
the  Boston  publishers,  also,  sold  25,000  copies.  The 
book  was  received  with  general  approbation  as  the  standard 
Baptist  Hymn  Book. 

Of  the  Almanac,  12,000  copies  had  been  sold.  The 
Weekly  Record  was  still  continued,  though  not  fully  paying 
its  expenses,  under  the  conviction  of  its  great  usefulness, 
especially  as  an  organ  of  the  Society ;  2700  copies  being 
issued  weekly.  Extra  papers,  without  charge,  were  occa- 
sionally sent  out,  filled  with  matters  of  direct  importance 
to  the  Society's  operations.  "  In  no  other  way  can  infor- 
mation of  our  plans,  modes  of  action,  and  the  character  of 
our  publications,  be  communicated  to  the  Baptist  churches 
at  so  cheap  a  rate,  or  impressions  so  deeply  and  permanently 
made  in  favor  of  the  Society." 

CHEAP    MONTHLY   PERIODICAL. 

"The   importance   of  a  cheap  Monthly  Periodical,  in 
pamphlet  form,  as  the  organ  of  the  Society,  and  a  medium 
13 


146  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

of  correspondence  with  the  churches  in  every  part  of  our 
common  country,"  having  been  long  felt  by  some  members 
of  the  Board,  at  the  close  of  1843  the  Monthly  Baptist 
Record,  "  made  up  from  the  columns  of  the  weekly  paper, 
and  devoted  to  some  of  the  leading  interests  of  the  denomi- 
nation," was  projected,  and  three  numbers  issued,  (com- 
prising 5400  copies)  when  it  was  amicably  merged  with  the 
"Baptist  Memorial,"  the  Society  having  a  joint  interest  in 
the  "Memorial,"  and  the  Secretary  being  one  of  its  Editors. 

All  subscriptions  obtained  through  the  agency  of  the 
Society  became  its  property. 

H.  A.  Smith,  of  Chenango  county,  N.  Y.,  and  J.  B. 
Olcott,  of  Greene  county,  N.  Y.,  were  employed  a  short  time 
in  the  summer  as  collecting  Agents  and  Colporteurs  with 
good  success. 

The  Corresponding  Secretary  had  acted  with  untiring 
energy.  Besides  850  circulars  and  written  explanations, 
he  had  written  over  500  letters,  visited  and  addressed  in 
fourteen  months  78  churches  in  13  States,  preached  140 
sermons,  made  45  public  addresses,  attended  three  Asso- 
ciations, four  State  Conventions,  and  traveled  8863  miles. 
His  life  was  mercifully  preserved  in  the  terrible  wreck  of 
the  steamer  Shepherdess  on  the  Mississippi  River.  Some 
of  the  members  of  the  Board  also  had  performed  agency 
service. 


25.  Value  of  Colportage. 

The  experiments  in  COLPORTAGE  made  in  Pennsylvania, 
Illinois,  Missouri,  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  demonstrate 
its  economy,  safety,  and  efficiency.  It  involves  no  compli- 
cated machinery,  nor  costly  agency.  "  Our  Colporteurs, 
instead  of  being  paid  salaries,"  with  equipage  and  traveling 


VALUE   OF    COLPURTAUE.  147 

expenses,  "receive  a  commission  on  sales."  Pious,  discreet 
and  efficient  men,  can  in  this  way  sustain  themselves,  pro- 
vided the  Board  has  means  to  furnish  them  with  sufficient 
stock.  They  visit  families,  attend  protracted  and  other 
meetings,  Associations  and  Sabbath- Schools,  supply  the 
people  with  suitable  publications,  and  cultivate  habits  of 
reading.  In  most  cases  they  will  be  ministers  of  the  Gos- 
pel. Throughout  the  South  and  West,  appointments  for 
preaching  can  be  made,  and  congregations  gathered  OD. 
week-days  as  well  as  Sabbaths.  These  are  providential 
circumstances,  which  make  such  Colportage  highly  ex- 
pedient. A  very  large  proportion  of  our  churches  in  that 
part  of  our  country  have  regular  visits  from  a  pastor  but 
once  a  month.  The  monthly  meetings  always  include  two 
days.  On  Saturdays,  not  only  church  members,  but  many 
other  people  assemble  for  worship.  This  furnishes  the 
Colporteur  an  admirable  opportunity  to  dispose  of  his 
books.  Baptist  pastors  and  itinerants  can  do  what  every 
Methodist  circuit  preacher  has  always  done — supply  the 
churches  with  the  means  of  instruction  from  the  Press. 
Without  this  system,  indeed,  the  Publication  Society  can 
effect  but  little,  in  providing  for  the  spiritual  wants'  of  the 
most  needy  of  our  churches. 

Gratuitous  distributions  of  Tracts  to  meet  urgent  calls 
were  made  to  the  amount  of  $268.67  ;  grants  to  Sunday- 
Schools  to  $20  ;  and  for  13  Ministers'  Libraries  in  Illinois 
and  Missouri,  $120,  from  funds  especially  designated  for 
this  purpose. 

Since  1840,  a  period  of  four  years,  25  Life  Directors 
and  62  Life  Members  have  been  constituted — aiding  our 
funds  by  $2,490.  As,  before  1840,  there  were  141  Life 
Directors  and  653  Life  Members,  we  now  have,  including 
these,  172  Life  Directorships  and  715  Life  Memberships — 
each  of  which  is  entitled  to  receive  back  one  half  of  the 
sum  paid,  in  the  publications  of  the  Society,  leaving  only 


148  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

one  half  to  enlarge  our  permanent  funds.  If  each  Church 
and  Sabbath- School  would  unite  in  making  its  pastor  and 
superintendent  a  Life  Director  or  Life  Member  of  our 
Society,  its  operations  might  at  once  be  multiplied  tenfold. 
The  whole  receipts  for  the  year  were  $12,714.94;  pay- 
ments, $12,599.08;  leaving  a  balance  of  $115.94.  Stock 
on  hand,  exclusive  of  $1200  sent  to  Colporteurs,  $6,376.94 
— the  whole  amount  of  the  Society's  present  working  capi- 
tal !  How  utterly  inadequate  to  its  vast  object !  How 
utterly  unworthy  of  the  vast  resources  of  the  denomination ! 
Will  the  churches,  after  so  long  a  delay,  take  hold  of  this 
Society,  and  enable  it  to  consummate  the  important  end 
for  which  it  was  organized  ? 


26.  Proposed  Fifty  Thousand  Dollar  Fund. 

The  Board  recommend  to  the  Society  a  direct  and  per- 
severing effort  to  raise  $50,000  IN  FIVE  YEARS,  at  the  rate 
of  $10,000  each  year,  on  the  following  plan  : 

Each  year  twenty  Life  Directors  at  $50  each,     $1000.00 
One  hundred  Life  members  at  $20  each,  2000.00 

Five  hundred  Annual  Subscriptions  at  $1  each,    500.00 
In  public  collections,  donations,  legacies,  &c.,     1500.00 


$5000.00 

Fifty  Associations,  Conventions,  &c.,  for  a  "Book 
Fund"  in  each  of  these  bodies,  annually, 
for  five  years,  on  an  average,  $100  each,         $5000,00 
Making  a  total  of  $10,000  for  each  of  the  five  years,  and  a 
grand  total  of  $50,000  as  a  permanent  capital  for  the 
Society.     It  is  believed  that  this  plan  is  perfectly  feasible. 
It  will  require  the  active  services  of  four  Agents,  including 
the  Corresponding  Secretary,  to  execute  it. 


MATTER   OF   FACT   APPEAL.  1  10 

27.  Matter  of  Fact  Appeal. 

The  Report  concludes  with  the  following  strong  and 
peculiar  appeal : 

"  The  circumstances  of  the  great  family  of  Baptists  in 
North  America  are  somewhat  peculiar.  In  past  years, 
with  a  Ministry  regarded  by  some  Christian  sects  as  feeble 
and  insignificant,  they  have  increased  in  church  communi- 
cants in  the  ratio  of  doubling  every  twelve  years.  In  half 
a  century,  from  about  400  churches  and  70,000  commu- 
nicants, we  have  increased,  in  the  regular  connection,  to 
about  9000  churches  and  750,000  members.  Yet  we 
have  less  than  6000  ordained  ministers  and  licentiates," 
including  those  superannuated,  and  those  employed  in 
other  professional  pursuits,  or  secular  labors  for  a  support. 

"A  considerable  proportion  of  our  ministers  are  evange- 
lists— -deficient  in  qualifications  for  the  pastoral  office. 
Yet  many  of  this  class  are  peculiarly  successful  in  pub- 
lishing the  elementary  truths  of  the  Gospel  to  their  fellow 
men.  They  are  admirably  adapted  for  the  work  of  pioneers 
in  the  destitute  parts  of  our  country,  and  the  Holy  Spirit 
owns  their  labors  in  the  conversion  of  great  numbers 
annually,  who,  if  it  were  not  for  their  instrumentality, 
would  be  wholly  destitute.  These  men  are  well  fitted  to 
perform  the  first  branches  of  the  Great  Commission.  They 
can  teach  the  elements  of  Gospel  truth,  so  as  to  be  instru- 
mental in  making  disciples,  and  they  can  baptize  the  con- 
verts ;  but  they  cannot  well  carry  out  the  Commission  in 
teaching  them  to  observe  all  things  which  Christ  has 
commanded.  They  cannot  train  up  the  disciples  and 
mould  the  churches  so  as  to  render  them  efficient,  and  in- 
fuse into  them  the  spirit  of  Christian  enterprise. 

"This  state  of  things  is  not  so  much  the  result  of 
neglect,  as  of  the  rapid  increase  of  our  churches  and  mem- 
bership by  the  special  providence  of  God.  Hence  the 
13* 


150  AMERICAN   BAPTIST  PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

peculiar  necessity  in  our  denomination  of  the  agency  of  a 
Publication  Society. 

"Those  two  great  Societies,  the  American  Sunday- 
School  Union  and  the  American  Tract  Society,  have  each 
a  field  of  operation  large  enough,  in  providing  for  the  reli- 
gious wants  of  the  destitute  on  union  principles.  They 
cannot  reach  our  churches  only  in  a  partial  and  incidental 
way.  Baptists  must  provide  for  the  wants  of  Baptists. 
We  belong  to  the  same  household  of  faith.  If  we  do  not 
provide  adequate  means  of  instruction,  who  will  ?" 


28.  The  Weekly  Record.     Changes  in  the  Constitution, 

This  able  Report  of  the  Board  was  adopted,  on  motion 
of  S.  W.  Lynd,  D.D.,  of  Ohio,  seconded  by  J.  Belcher, 
D.D.,  recently  from  England. 

A  commttiee  was  appointed  on  the  "  Weekly  Record," 
consisting  of  A.  Wheelock,  J.  M.  Peck,  M.  J.  Rhees, 
William  Crane,  J.  C.  Crane,  and  D.  Benedict,  who  ulti- 
mately reported  the  following  resolution  : 

"  Resolved,  That  while  this  .Society  have  confidence  in 
the  wisdom  and  economy  of  the  Board  in  managing  the 
WEEKLY  RECORD,  yet  should  an  opportunity  be  afforded, 
they  recommend  to  have  that  periodical  placed  under  the 
responsibility  of  some  individual  publishing  house  or 
company,  provided  an  arrangement  can  be  made  so  as  to 
secure  the  best  interests  of  the  Society  in  its  publication." 
This  Report  was  adopted. 

The  Committee  on  the  Constitution  recommended  several 
changes,  which  were  adopted.  The  first  of  the  amendments 
struck  out  the  words  "  Sunday- School"  in  the  title  of  the 
Society,  in  order  to  shorten  it.  The  others  were  more 
practical.  They  appear  in  the  revised  printed  form  here- 
with subjoined. 


ENCOURAGEMENTS.  151 


29.  Encouragements. 

On  motion  of  A.  Sherwood,  of  Illinois,  seconded  by  J. 
M.  Pendleton,  of  Kentucky,  it  was, 

"Resolved,  That  the  project  of  the  Board  for  raising 
$50,000  in  five  years,  meets  the  approbation  of  the  Society, 
and  is  cordially  recommended  to  the  confidence  and  liber- 
ality of  the  churches,"  &c.  &c. 

A  warm  interest  was  manifested  on  this  occasion.  Ad- 
dresses were  made  by  brn.  Sherwood,  Babcock,  Peck,  Alder- 
son  of  Virginia,  Tucker  of  Indiana,  Brown  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, Cressy  of  Ohio,  Fuller  of  New  York,  Tenbroek  of 
Michigan,  Dodge  of  Philadelphia,  and  Everts  of  New 
York,  followed  by  subscriptions  in  most  cases  of  $50  each. 
The  sum  of  $125  was  pledged  in  a  few  moments. 

On  motion  of  Bro.  Kincaid  from  Burniah,  sustained  by 
several  other  brethren,  but  with  a  most  impressive  recital 
of  facts  by  the  mover,  it  was  "  fiesolved,  That  the  blessing 
of  God  which  has  attended  the  distribution  of  religious 
books  and  tracts  in  Europe,  Burmah,  China,  and  other 
foreign  countries,  calls  loudly  on  the  churches  to  aid  the 
Baptist  Publication  Society,  that  it  may  have  means  of 
appropriation  to  the  foreign  field." 

Under  these  encouraging  circumstances  the  Society  ad- 
journed, to  hold  a  special  meeting  on  the  third  Thursday 
in  May,  to  consider,  and  if  expedient,  adopt  the  charter, 
then  pending  before  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania. 

Before  adjournment  the  choice  of  officers  for  the  year 
had  been  accomplished  and  announced.  Dr.  Babcock 
having  declined  a  re-election,  J.  H.  KENNARD  was  chosen 
President,  J.  B.  TREVOR,  Treasurer,  B.  R.  LOXLEY,  Assist- 
ant Treasurer,  J.  M.  PECK,  Corresponding  Secretary,  and 
LEVI  KNOWLES,  Jr.,  Recording  Secretary.  Several  unim- 
portant changes  were  made  in  the  Board. 


152  AMERICAN   BAPTIST  PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 


30.  Circular  of  1844.     The  $50,000  Fund. 

A  Circular  was  issued  with  the  Annual  Report,  ex- 
pounding more  in  detail  the  plan  for  raising  a  capital  of 
$50,000,  presented  in  the  Report,  and  unanimously  ap- 
proved by  the  Society  at  the  great  and  enthusiastic  meet- 
ing just  described.  Though  the  Society  had  authorized 
the  Board  to  employ  the  Agents  necessary  to  carry  it  into 
effect,  and  it  appeared  so  perfectly  feasible,  yet  like  every 
preceding  effort  to  awaken  the  churches,  it  failed  of  success. 


31.  Twenty-First  Annual  Meeting,  1845. 

The  next  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Society  was  held  with 
the  First  Baptist  Church,  Providence,  R.  I.,  April  30, 
1845 ;  the  President,  J.  H.  Kennard,  in  the  chair. 

The  Charter  granted  by  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania 
at  its  last  session,  was  presented  by  the  Corresponding 
Secretary,  and  it  was  Resolved,  That  it  should  be  accepted, 
and  the  Constitution  be  so  modified  as  to  agree  with  its 
phraseology.  Brethren  Babcock,  Wattson,  Marchaut, 
Aldrich,  and  Maginnis,  were  chosen  a  Committee  on  the 
Constitution  for  this  purpose. 

The  Treasurer's  Report  was  read.  Receipts  from  all 
sources,  (including  a  loan  of  $2,400,)  $20,803.78;  Expen- 
ditures, $20,785.24  ;  balance  in  the  Treasury,  $18.54. 

An  abstract  of  the  Annual  Report  of  the  Board  was  read 
by  the  Corresponding  Secretary,  J.  M.  Peck.  It  announced 
the  death  of  two  distinguished  Vice  Presidents  of  the  So- 
ciety, Rev.  Jonathan  Going,  D.D.  of  Ohio,  and  Rev.  W.  T. 
Brautly,  D.D.  of  South  Carolina,  formerly  of  Philadelphia., 
iiml  for  many  years  an  active  member  and  President  of  the 
Board  under  the  Tract  organization. 


LOAN   NECESSARY.  153 

A  summary  is  presented  of  the  work  of  the  Society  from 
1840  to  1844 — showing  a  total  of  Bound  Volumes  published 
in  four  years,  34,750;  of  pamphlets,  5000;  of  Tracts, 
266,573  copies,  including  3,345,411  pages,  besides  114,000 
pages  of  extra  Tracts.  For  gratuitous  distribution  in  the 
same  time  1200  Annual  Reports,  and  5000  extra  Records. 
And  for  sale,  30,000  copies  of  the  Almanac  and  Register, 
and  54,000  copies  of  the  Weekly  Record.  To  which  may 
be  added  5,500  copies  of  the  Monthly  Record.  There 
were  put  into  circulation  102,000  bound  volumes  ;  of  which 
25,000  only  were  of  the  Society's  own  publications;  the 
others  being  drawn  from  kindred  societies  and  the  house 
of  Gould,  Kendall,  and  Lincoln.  Most  of  these  went  into 
the  Southern  and  Western  States. 


32.  Loan  of  $2400  necessary. 

During  the  year  1844-5,  the  business  had  so  increased, 
and  the  demands  for  books  become  so  pressing,  as  to  induce 
the  Board  to  effect  a  loan  of  $2400,  to  enable  it  to  supply 
the  demand  for  books.  Several  new  publications  were 
issued,  besides  the  reprints — as  Bunyan's  Holy  War,  Car- 
ion  on  Baptism,  Aids  to  Devotion,  Our  Saviour,  Ministry 
for  the  Times,  Facts  on  Popery,  and  the  first  volume  of  The 
Complete  Works  of  Andrew  Fuller.  Also,  two  new  Sunday- 
School  books,  Anna  Bailey  and  Simple  Stories.  Most  of 
these  works  were  stereotyped,  making  2561  pages,  at  a  cost 
of  $2,707.75.  The  Psalmist  continued  to  be  called  for 
extensively ;  8000  copies  were  published  during  the  year. 


154  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 


33.  Complete  Works  of  Andrew  Fuller. 

It  was  not  without  correspondence  and  consultation  that 
the  Board  decided  upon  the  plan  and  style  of  publishing 
the  Works  of  Andrew  Fuller.  Of  three  plans  presented, 
the  one  adopted  was  approved  with  almost  entire  unani- 
mity. "The  first  volume  is  a  fine  large  octavo  of  740  pages, 
good  paper  and  fair  type.  The  second  is  in  press ;  and  the 
whole  will  be  issued  in  three  volumes,  with  no  other  delay 
than  is  necessary  to  secure  good  execution,  under  the 
editorial  supervision  of  Rev.  Dr.  Belcher,  a  scholar  and 
popular  writer,  intimately  acquainted  with  the  writings  of 
Fuller.  He  has  collected  the  whole,  arranged  the  volumes 
in  topical  order,  and  appended  valuable  notes.  Much  new 
matter  will  be  added,  drawn  from  the  Scotch  Magazines 
and  other  sources,  to  enrich  this  complete  edition. 

"  We  expect  calls  for  this  work  from  others  besides  our 
own  brethren.  No  minister  or  intelligent  layman  of  the 
Evangelical  School,  can  consider  his  theological  library  fur- 
nished without  the  writings  of  Andrew  Fuller.  There  is  very 
little  in  the  mass  of  his  writings  that  is  strictly  denomina- 
tional. His  field  of  thought  and  labor  was  the  great  doctrinal 
truths  received  in  common  by  most  evangelical  sects.  And 
however  he  may  have  been  misunderstood  by  his  opponents, 
no  writer  has  ever  more  fully  illustrated,  or  successfully 
defended,  the  doctrine  of  sovereign  efficacious  grace  in  the 
salvation  of  sinners,  through  the  vicarious  sufferings  and 
justifying  righteousness  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  mighty 
working  of  the  Eternal  Spirit,  in  consistency  with  the 
entire  accountability  of  man,  and  the  duty  of  all  who  hear 
the  Gospel  to  believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  that  they 
may  be  saved.  It  is  expected  that  the  ministry  of  our 
churches,  and  theological  students,  will  procure  these 
volumes  whatever  else  may  be  wanting  in  their  libraries. 


OTHER    WORK   OF   THE    YEAR.  155 


34.  Dr.  Carson  on  Baptism. 

"  The  masterly  work  of  Dr.  Carson  on  the  Baptismal 
controversy,  with  a  memoir  of  his  life  prefixed,  makes  an 
octavo  volume  of  550  pages.  It  is  unquestionably  the 
most  learned,  logical,  and  complete  work  on  this  contro- 
versy ever  published.  And  it  is  a  mournful  record  we 
have  to  make,  that  the  venerable  author  has  just  finished 
his  earthly  labors.  His  numerous  writings  are  now  in 
process  of  publication  in  England.  How  far  it  may  be 
desirable  for  the  Board  to  bring  them  before  the  churches 
in  America,  can  be  better  decided  when  they  are  before  us 
in  a  complete  form." 


35.  Other  Work  of  the  Year. 

"  Since  the  last  anniversary,  the  Board  have  put  into 
circulation  41,740  volumes;  of  which  14,858  were  our 
own  publications,  and  26,882  volumes  were  purchased  from 
others. — Of  the  regular  series  of  Tracts,  the  Board  have 
issued  44,474  copies,  including  840,069  pages."  Of  our 
nine  Tracts  for  children,  11,194-  copies  and  44,775  pages. 

The  Almanac  and  Register  for  1845  is  more  complete 
than  heretofore  in  its  statistics;  the  number  published  was 
16,000.  The  Weekly  Record  had  an  increase  in  January 
of  500  copies  for  Missouri,  raising  the  issue  to  3,150.  Of 
the  Baptist  Memorial,  350  subscribers  belong  to  the  So- 
ciety, all  of  whom  pay  in  advance.  A  little  effort  might 
increase  the  number  here  taken  of  this  valuable  periodical. 

The  Christian  Review,  43  copies ;  Missionary  Magazine, 
244;  Sunday-School  Treasury,  37;  Young  Reaper,  61; 
Mother's  Monthly  Journal,  44 ;  Macedonian,  1523  copies, 
are  also  circulated  from  our  Depository. 


156  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION  SOCIETY. 

Two  agents,  H.  H.  Ilaff  and  J.  B.  Olcott,  were  em- 
ployed in  the  State  of  New  York,  a  part  of  the  year,  with 
encouraging  results.  C.  C.  Williams,  a  member  of  the 
Board,  spent  a  few  days  successfully.  And  the  Corres- 
ponding Secretary  had  traveled  in  his  agency  6034  miles, 
preaching  69  sermons,  and  delivering  33  public  addresses 
in  behalf  of  the  Society. 

"  The  Board,  as  heretofore,  will  continue  to  use  due 
caution  and  economy  in  the  employment  of  collecting 
Agents.  Yet  such  are  the  habits  of  our  churches,  so  large 
a  proportion  are  destitute  of  pastors,  so  many  and  pressing 
are  the  duties  of  pastors,  and  so  frequent  are  the  calls  for 
Christian  liberality,  that  Agents  are  an  indispensable  part 
of  our  moral  machinery.  As  a  religious  work,  it  calls  for 
much  self-denial,  constant  absence  from  home,  exposure 
sometimes  to  unkind  surmises,  and  admits  of  a  less  com- 
pensation than  that  of  the  regular  pastor.  But  it  is  a  work 
to  which  the  Apostles  and  their  fellow-laborers  submitted, 
as  is  plainly  evident  from  the  8th  Chapter  of  the  Second 
Epistle  of  Paul  to  the  Church  of  Corinth." 

Such  were  the  sound  views  of  the  Board  on  the  subject 
of  Agency  in  1845. 


36.  Two  Plans  of  Colportage. 

On  the  subject  of  Colportage  the  Report  is  very  full 
and  discriminating.  It  presents  two  systems — a  primary 
and  a  secondary.  The  primary,  as  adopted  and  acted  on 
by  the  Society  from  the  first,  resembles  that  of  the  Metho- 
dist Church — the  employment  of  itinerant  ministers  and 
missionaries,  supplied  with  books  on  a  per-centage,  but 
without  salary  from  the  Society.  This  has  been  perhaps 
sufficiently  described  heretofore  in  this  document.  But 
the  secondary  system,  which  is  that  of  the  American  Tract 


TWO  PLANS   OF   COLPORTAGE.  157 

Society,and  provides  at  least  a  salary — perhaps  also  an  outfit 
and  traveling  expenses,  came  but  slowly  and  partially  into 
use  with  our  Society.  The  first  instance  of  it  occurs  in  the 
Report  of  this  year.  It  is  introduced  in  the  following 
manner : 

"  There  is  another  feature  which  may  be  introduced  with 
great  effect  and  at  small  expense,  and  which  is  specially 
desirable  in  those  parts  of  our  country  where  missionary 
aid  is  necessary.  The  Society  has  had  one  Colporteur  and 
Missionary  employed  a  part  of  the  last  year  on  a  definite 
salary,  and  the  per-centage  on  books  sold,  after  meeting 
incidental  expenses,  is  placed  to  the  credit  of  the  Society. 
As  an  illustration  of  this  feature  in  Colporteur  operations, 
and  its  admirable  adaptedness  to  those  parts  of  our 
country  where  the  destitute  circumstances  of  the  people  do 
pot  permit  them  to  purchase  many  books,  and  where  mis- 
sionary labor  is  specially  needed,  we  submit  a  synopsis  of  a 
few  months  labor  performed  by  Rev.  A.  B.  Harris  in 
Illinois,  Missouri,  and  Kentucky.  During  six  months  he 
traveled  2486  miles,  visited  40  different  churches  and  275 
families  for  religious  purposes,  preached  66  sermons,  made 
28  addresses,  sold  644  volumes,  and  distributed  about  9000 
pages  of  Tracts.  His  salary  was  $75,  and  traveling  and 
other  incidental  expenses,  including  freight  on  books  sent 
him,  were  $27.12.  Sabbath-Schools,  Temperance,  and 
every  good  work  occupied  his  attention.  A  large  pro- 
portion of  the  churches  visited  were  destitute  of  regular 
pastors,  and  have  only  occasional  preaching.  Mr.  Harris 
has  been  re-appointed  for  .the  same  field  on  a  pledge  of 
$100  from  Milford,  N.  H. 

"This  experiment  shows  that  for  each  $100  special 
donation  for  this  purpose,  a  missionary  can  be  sustained  in 
the  most  destitute  parts  of  the  United  States.  The  per- 
centage on  sales  will  make  up  his  small  salary.  But  it  is 
14 


158  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

only  a  class  of  self-denying  and  single  men,  like  the  one 
named,  that  will  perform  this  laborious  work. 

"  The  most  numerous  class  of  Colporteurs  we  employ 
are  those  ministers  who  spend  such  portions  of  their  time 
as  they  can  itinerate,  which  will  average  from  50  to  150 
days  (besides  Sabbaths)  in  a  year.  About  20  such  are  in 
commission.  Those  in  the  employ  of  Missionary  Societies, 
of  course,  devote  their  whole  time  to  this  work. 

"  Having  fully  explained  the  theory  and  tried  its  efficiency 
by  practice,  we  now  submit  it  to  the  Society,  the  churches, 
and  the  public.  It  is  chiefly  by  this  measure  that  we  can 
reach  the  Germans  and  other  foreign  immigrants  that  are 
pouring  into  the  great  Western  Valley." 


37.  Auxiliary  Societies.     Book  Funds. 

In  regard  to  Auxiliary  Societies,  the  Report  judiciously 
observes  :  "  The  Board  of  the  Publication  Society  have 
been  cautious  about  forming  small  Societies  under  the 
name  of  Auxiliaries,  as  was  customary  in  our  benevolent 
associations  in  former  years.  Very  few  such  Societies  have 
been  efficient;  and  a  large  proportion  that  have  been 
enrolled  on  Annual  Reports  have  not  lived  to  the  second 
anniversary.  Our  Churches,  Associations,  and  State  Con- 
ventions, (or,  as  called  in  the  South  and  West,  General 
Associations,)  are  permanent  Societies  for  every  good 
work.  These  bodies  are  admirably  adapted  to  carry  out 
our  plan  of  operations  in  their  respective  fields." 

The  New  Hampshire  State  Convention,  together  with 
those  in  Michigan,  North  Carolina,  Mississippi,  and  Illi- 
nois, are  regular  auxiliaries.  So  also  ill  effect  are  the 
New  England  Sunday-School  Union,  the  "  Ohio  Book  and 
Tract  Society,"  the  Virginia  Baptist  Publication  and 


AUXILIARY    SOCIETIES.       BOOK   FUNDS.  159 

Sunday-School  Society,  and  the  Tennessee  Baptist  Publi- 
cation Society.  A  Colporteur  of  the  last  named,  Rev.  A. 
Wedge,  in  six  months,  sold  books  to  the  amount  of 
$813.90;  distributed  books  gratuitously  to  the  cost  of 
$19.92,  besides  10,500  pages  of  Tracts,  visited  fifty 
churches,  five  associations,  ninety  families,  obtained  200 
subscribers  to  the  Tennessee  Baptist,  and  $106  on  sub- 
scription for  the  Publication  Cause. 

The  project,  adopted  by  the  Society  at  its  last  anni- 
versary, has  gone  into  effect  in  a  number  of  Associations. 
Some  of  these  bodies  have  raised  funds,  and  conduct  their 
own  Colporteur  operations  through  their  itinerant  mission- 
aries. Others  avail  themselves  of  a  temporary  arrange- 
ment to  obtain  books  on  credit,  by  giving  bond  with 
security.  It  is  hoped,  before  many  years  will  pass  away, 
each  Association  will  have  its  own  "Book  Fund"  and 
Colporteurs,  so  that  every  church  and  family  may  be 
supplied. 

"  The  rigid  economy  we  have  been  compelled  to  employ 
in  laying  a  foundation  for  future  and  permanent  success," 
the  Report  continues,  "has  much  restricted  our  gratui- 
ties." A  few  very  destitute  Sunday- Schools,  and  thirty- 
four  destitute  ministers  in  the  Western  Valley,  had  re- 
ceived libraries.  The  means  have  been  derived  partly  from 
special  donations,  and  partly  from  Life  Members  re- 
linquishing their  claims  for  half  their  subscriptions  in  books 
to  the  benefit  of  poor  ministers.  Twenty  new  Life  Mem- 
berships at  $20  each,  and  nine  Life  Directorships  at  $50 
each,  have  been  received  this  year.  When  these  are  paid  in 
installments,  it  must  be  understood  by  all,  that  no  person 
is  a  Life  Director  or  Life  Member  in  form,  or  entitled  to 
draw  books,  until  the  whole  amount  is  paid.  It  ought  to  be 
understood,  also,  that  when  books  are  not  drawn  within  a 
limited  period,  the  amount  is  intended  as  a  donation  to 
the  Society.  The  books  drawn  are  to  be  the  publications 


160  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

of  the  Society,  unless  by  special  exception — as  to  furnish 
them  some  particular  book  of  great  utility  ;  like  the  Ency- 
clopedia of  Religious  Knowledge." 

The  stock  of  the  Society  is  estimated  at  $12,547.49. 
The  gain  the  past  year  in  stereotype  plates  and  books  is 
$4,252.05.  The  legacies  of  the  year  amount  to  $1,262.80. 


38.  Grateful  Review, 

This  review  of  the  year  calls  for  devout  thanksgiving, 
and  may  well  inspire  animation  and  hope.  "  The  Society 
is  second  to  no  other  agency  in  providing  wholesome  in- 
struction to  the  numerous  destitute  churches,  and  the 
growing  wants  of  the  community.  It  is  one  of  those  insti- 
tutions that,  like  the  current  of  some  of  the  mighty  rivers 
of  the  West,  is  slow,  noiseless,  and  onward ;  made  up  from 
a  thousand  mountain  streams,  bearing  on  its  broad  surface 
the  commerce  of  a  great  country,  fertilizing  the  region 
through  which  it  passes,  and  sending  off  numerous  channels 
to  water  and  enrich  the  wide  valley  through  which  they 
flow.  No  other  organized  agency  can  perform  its  appro- 
priate work.  No  other  Society  can  reach  our  numerous 
churches,  unprovided  with  pastors,  with  the  living  voice  of 
the  itinerant  minister  and  the  best  products  of  the  press  so 
happily  combined." 


39.  Astounding  Facts. 

"Two  astounding  FACTS,  bearing  directly  upon  this  sub- 
ject, appear  in  the  statistical  tables  of  the  denomination  for 
1843.  These  are,  1.  The  great  deiicieney  in  the  means  of 


ASTOUNDING   FACTS.  161 

pastoral  instruction — only  6,343  ministers,  ordained  and 
unordained,  to  9000  churches.  2.  These  ministers  are  very 
unequally  distributed.  The  deficiency  iu  New  England, 
New  York,  and  the  Middle  States,  is  only  about  100  ;  in 
the  Southern  States,  from  Maryland  to  Florida,  it  is  about 
1000 ;  and  in  the  great  Western  Valley  it  amounts  to 
about  1500 — although  the  number  of  Baptist  communicants 
is  nearly  the  same  in  each  of  these  three  great  divisions  of 
our  country. 

"  What  shall  be  done  ?  These  destitute  churches  must 
be  visited  by  Colporteurs,  supplied  with  books  and  tracts ; 
and  the  best  substitute  for  the  labors  of  the  settled  pastor 
must  be  adopted. 

"  The  population  in  the  Western  Yalley  doubles  every 
ten  years.  In  1790,  there  were  but  108,568  in  all  that 
region.  In  1845,  not  less  than  8,900,000.  Now  Baptists 
constitute  one-fourth  part  of  the  evangelical  professors  of 
religion  in  that  district.  Consequently  they  have  one- 
fourth  of  the  religious  work  to  perform.  When  will  our 
brethren  learn  to  provide  for  their  own  spiritual  house- 
hold ? 

"  But  there  is  another  view.  There  are  dangers  of  no 
ordinary  character,  portentous  to  the  character  of  our 
country,  from  which  nothing  but  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  by 
its  influence  on  the  hearts  and  lives  of  the  people,  can  save 
us.  With  all  the  bright  hopes  that  gleam  around  us,  it  is 
quite  possible,  before  another  half  century  shall  have  been 
added  to  our  national  history,  our  fair  land  may  be  covered 
with  the  blood  of  her  sons — our  civil  and  religious  liberties 
scattered  to  the  four  winds  of  heaven — the  sceptre  of  a 
Caesar  or  a  Napoleon  may  control  its  destinies — and  our 
children's  children  stumble  over  and  grope  among  the  fallen 
and  disjointed  pillars  that  once  sustained  and  adorned  the 
temple  of  liberty.  Human  nature  is  exceedingly  depraved, 
and  subject  perpetually  to  the  most  fearful  delusion. 
14* 


162  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

Proofs  of  this  are  seen  on  every  page  of  history,  and 
developed  in  every  form  of  religious,  political,  and  social 
fanaticism. 

"Among  the  evils  to  which  we  as  a  nation  are  peculiarly 
exposed  are  the  lust  of  gain — the  love  of  excitement law- 
lessness— superstition — skepticism,  under  the  mask  of  philo- 
sophical liberalism,  but  filled  with  intense  hatred  to  Bible 
Christianity.  From  these  evils  physical  means  cannot 
save  us.  We  may  construct  canals  and  railroads,  and  in- 
crease the  facilities  of  inter-communication — our  commerce 
may  whiten  every  sea — caloric  may  drive  our  machinery — 
the  forked  lightning  may  convey  intelligence  to  every  city 
of  the  land — science  may  open  all  the  stores  of  nature,  and 
yet  the  nation  may  sink  with  its  own  depravity.  Educa- 
tion cannot  save  us.  Colleges  may  be  multiplied — schools 
for  the  intellect  may  exist  in  every  hamlet — and  literature 
may  pour  its  treasures  at  our  feet,  and  yet  ruin  overtake 
us  if  we  are  destitute  of  the  moral  principles  taught 
nowhere  else  but  in  God's  blessed  book.  The  development 
of  the  resources  of  the  country — the  success,  or  the  eventual 
triumph  of  any  one  political  party — the  increase  of  popu- 
lation— or  the  extension  of  territorial  domain — cannot  work 
out  our  emancipation  from  sin.  And  yet  the  means  of  our 
preservation  and  salvation  are  within  our  reach.  They 
are  to  be  found  in  the  simple  principles  of  the  Gospel  of 
Christ.  The  object  is  to  be  gained  by  the  very  simple 
measure  of  making  the  people  of  our  country  a  sober, 
thinking,  reading,  praying,  and  truly  religious  people. 
It  is  quite  possible  to  provide  these  means  for  the  whole 
population  of  our  country,  and  for  all  who  may  immigrate 
from  foreign  shores. 

"To  other  means — to  the  education  of  the  ministry, 
home  missions,  and  Bible  distribution,  must  be  added  the 
establishment  of  Sabbath-Schools  and  Bible  Classes,  ;m<l 
the  publication  and  sending  forth  of  religious  books  and 


CLAIMS  OP  THE   SOCIETY.  163 

tracts.  The  PRESS  must  be  employed  to  its  utmost  power, 
in  counteracting  its  own  terrible  misdoings  in  sending  forth 
such  streams  of  demoralizing  literature  as  now  flow  to  the 
remotest  districts  of  the  land  ;  and  in  making  an  aggressive 
war  on  the  worldliness,  passion,  lawlessness,  superstition, 
false  liberalism,  heresies,  and  depravities  of  the  age.  In 
this  age  religious  publications  are  as  indispensable  to  the 
moral  health  and  successful  enterprise  of  a  religious 
denomination  as  bread  corn  is  to  the  comfortable  support 
of  a  family. 


40.  Claims  of  the  Society. 

"  The  American  Baptist  Publication  Society  has  claims 
of  a  most  urgent  character  on  the  denomination.  It  has 
one  paramount  object,  to  make  the  members  of  our  churches 
and  all  the  people  over  whom  our  ministry  have  influence, 
intelligent,  devout,  liberal  and  benevolent  Christians. — 
More  than  1500  of  our  preachers  in  the  Western  Valley 
are  exceedingly  deficient  in  religious  books.  Many  are 
quite  destitute.  At  least  1000  of  this  class  ought  to  be 
supplied  by  donations.  Give  these  men  books,  and  aid 
them  by  kind  and  mutual  co-operation,  and  in  a  short 
time  their  usefulness  would  be  more  than  doubled. 

"All  other  sects  are  at  work  in  this  department  of  reli- 
gious effort,  each  in  a  denominational  way.  Presbyterians, 
Methodists,  Episcopalians,  Romanists,  Unitarians,  Uni- 
versalists — every  sect,  good  or  bad,  are  employing  the 
press,  and  circulating  books  and  tracts.  Each  has  its  class 
of  periodicals.  Our  denomination  too  must  put  forth  all 
its  strength,  and  by  mutual  co-operation  provide  ample 
means  of  instruction  for  all  within  our  reach." 

On  motion  of  T.  C.  Teasdale,  of  Conn.,  seconded  by  S. 


164  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

S.  Cutting,  of  Mass.,  the  Annual  Report  of  which  we  have 
here  given  a  full  abstract,  was  adopted  and  referred  to  the 
Board  for  publication.  Among  other  impressive  remarks, 
Mr.  Teasdale  said : 

•  "  Sir,  I  cannot  help  feeling  that  the  claims  of  the  Amer- 
ican Baptist  Publication  Society  have  not  yet  met  a  suit- 
able response  in  the  affections  and  prayers  of  our  people.  I 
have  always  believed  that  this  Society  was  needed ;  that  it 
was  accomplishing  a  useful  work ;  and  that  it  could  not  be 
spared  without  essentially  impairing  the  symmetry  of  the 
system  of  our  benevolent  operations.  But,  Sir,  I  confess 
that  I  have  never  comprehended,  as  of  late,  the  inappreciable 
importance  of  this  institution  in  the  system  of  means  for 
the  diffusion  of  Gospel  light,  for  the  conversion  of  the 
world  to  God.  It  deserves  greatly  increased  patronage  at 
the  hands  of  our  people.  I  believe,  Sir,  that  the  time  is 
not  far  distant  when  our  slumbers  on  this  subject  will  be 
ended  ;  the  night  of  our  indifference  will  have  passed  away ; 
and  the  morning  of  a  glorious  prosperity  will  have  dawned 
upon  this  Society. 

"  How  aptly,  I  have  thought,  might  that  beautiful 
apostrophe  of  one  of  our  poets  be  addressed  to  each  of 
the  Colporteurs  in  the  field  : 

f  The  good  begun  by  thee  shall  onward  flow 
In  many  a  branching  stream,  and  wider  growj 
The  seed  that  in  these  few  and  fleeting  hours, 
Thy  hands  unsparing  and  unwearied  sow, 
Shall  dock  thy  grave  with  amaranthine  flowers, 
And  yield  thee  fruit  divine  in  heaven's  immortal  bowers '." 

The  following  preamble  and  resolutions  were  offered  by 
Mr.  J.  H.  Campbell  of  Georgia,  as  the  foundation  of  some 
remarks : 

"  Whereas,  several  Assoications  have  already  provided 
a  Book  Fund  and  facilities  for  Colporteur  operations  by 


CLAIMS   OF   THE    SOCIETY.  165 

their  itinerant  ministers — and  many  others  have  commenced 
similar  measures,  therefore 

"  Resolved,  That  this  Society  has  great  confidence  in  this 
mode  of  associated  action — that  it  is  admirably  suited  to 
each  section  of  our  country — furnishes  peculiar  facilities  to 
reach  every  class — is  simple  in  its  form — and  can  be  made 
exceedingly  effective  in  carrying  out  the  purposes  of  this 
Society  " 

Mr.  Campbell  spoke  of  the  scriptural  character,  uniting 
tendency,  simplicity  and  efficiency  of  the  work,  and  Mr. 
Kincaid  of  its  effects  in  Burmah. 

On  motion  of  J.  M.  Peck,  accompanied  with  explanation, 
"  Resolved,  That  the  project  of  employing  itinerant 
ministers  in  the  destitute  parts  of  the  Western  Yalley  as 
Colporteurs  and  Missionaries,  whenever  specific  donations 
are  made  for  that  object,  at  a  salary  each,  not  exceeding 
$100  per  annum,  together  with  such  percentage  on  sales  of 
books  as  will  sustain  them  and  pay  all  contingent  expenses, 
commends  itself  to  the  churches  as  combining  efficiency, 
economy,  and  great  usefulness." 

A  vote  of  thanks  to  the  American  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society  was  passed,  for  a  liberal  donation  of  Bibles  and 
Testaments,  and  a  collection  taken  of  $31.86,  besides  fifty 
dollars  for  Life  Memberships. 

On  report  of  the  Committee,  the  amendments  to  the  Con- 
stitution required  to  bring  it  in  harmony  with  the  Charter 
were  then  considered  and  adopted.  See  amended  Con- 
stitution. 

J.  H.  KENNAKD  was  again  elected  President ;  W.  W. 
KEEN,  Treasurer ;  B.  R.  LOXLEY,  Assistant  Treasurer; 
J.  M.  Peck,  Corresponding  Secretary ;  and  L.  KNOWLES, 
Jr.,  Recording  Secretary.  Few  changes  were  made  in  the 
new  Board  of  Managers. 


166  AMERICAN   BAPTIST  PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 


41.  Important  Principles  of  the  Society, 

In  Appendix  D.  to  the  Report  of  this  year,  we  find  the 
following  important  principles  announced,  as  having  been 
settled  by  the  Society  : 

DEPOSITORIES   OF   BOOKS. 

"  The  American  Baptist  Publication  Society  does  not 
establish  Depositories  for  the  sale  of  books  in  any  part  of 
the  country.  It  would  be  ruinous  to  its  interests  by  exhaust- 
ing its  resources,  cause  great  loss  and  waste,  and  be  wholly 
defective  in  supplying  the  people. 

"  In  any  city,  town,  county,  state  convention,  association, 
or  church,  where  the  people  want  a  Depository  of  books  to 
retail  to  those  who  call,  we  expect  they  will  raise  the  funds, 
procure  the  books,  and  superintend  the  business  at  their 
own  expense  and  risk,  and  in  their  own  way.  We  will 
furnish  them  with  any  or  all  our  publications  on  the  lowest 
terms.  And  when  cash  is  advanced,  will  purchase  from 
other  publishers  and  obtain  for  them  any  books  they  need, 
which  are  in  the  market. 

BOOKS   NOT   ON   COMMISSION. 

"  Nor  do  we  send  out  books  to  any  individual,  church, 
association,  or  society,  for  sale  on  commission ;  the  money 
to  be  returned  at  some  indefinite  period,  and  unsold  books 
to  be  returned.  This  has  been  tried  both  by  publishers 
and  societies,  and  has  proved  a  most  ruinous  and  wasteful 
measure.  The  growth,  efficiency,  and  success  of  our  Pub- 
lication Society  depends,  under  God,  on  a  system  of  rigid 
economy,  vigilant  supervision,  and  prudent  management. 
All  its  objects  may  be  gained,  and  the  whole  community, 
and  especially  all  our  churches,  benefited  by  carrying  out 
our  projected  system  of  operations. 


TWENTY-SECOND   ANNUAL   MEETING.  167 

OUR  CREDIT   SYSTEM. 

"Brethren  will  please  understand  that  every  dollar'3 
worth  of  books  we  send  out  on  credit,  even  for  a  limited 
period,  so  far  prevents  the  Managers  from  issuing  a  larger 
number,  or  a  greater  variety  of  new  books. 

"  We  now  have  more  than  $6000  worth  of  books  sent 
out  on  a  limited  credit,  with  bond  and  security,  during  the 
past  year.  If  this  was  now  in  the  treasury,  the  Board  could 
issue  immediately  that  amount  in  new  books.  But  until 
more  funds  are  obtained  as  capital,  our  issues  and  conse- 
quent means  of  doing  good  must  be  proportionably  limited. 

"  These  statements  are  made  to  show  our  brethren  the 
great  importance  of  getting  into  a  system  of  cash  opera- 
tions as  fast  as  possible.  We  earnestly  hope  and  affection- 
ately urge  all  the  Associations  to  provide  each  a  Book 
Fund ;  purchase  their  books  in  advance,  and  circulate  them 
by  means  of  their  itinerant  preachers.  If  our  brethren 
who  have  the  means  only  knew,  as  we  do,  how  much  such 
a  measure  would  relieve  and  strengthen  the  Society,  they 
would  relinquish  the  credit,  and  adopt  the  prompt  pay 
system.  Our  esteemed  laboring  Colporteurs  we  must  fur- 
nish with  books  on  a  limited  credit,  with  bond  and  se- 
curity." 


42.  Twenty-Second  Annual  Meeting,  1846. 

The  Annual  Meeting  of  1846,  being  the  Twenty-Second 
from  the  beginning  as  a  Tract  Society,  was  held  with  the 
Fifth  Baptist  Church,  Sansom  St.,  Philadelphia,  Wednes- 
day, April  29 ;  the  President,  J.  H.  Kennard,  in  the  chair. 

The  Treasurer's  Report  was  read  by  B.  R.  Loxley.  Re- 
ceipts from  all  sources,  $22,726.96 ;  including  $2,844  how- 


168  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

ever,  received  for  other  Societies,  and  transmitted  to  them ; 
leaving  the  receipts  for  the  Society's  purposes  properly 
$19,883.65;  expenditures,  $19,746.03.  Balance  in  the 
Treasury,  $137.62. 

The  Report  of  the  Board  of  Managers  was  read  by  J. 
M.  Peck,  Corresponding  Secretary.  It  records  the  sudden 
death  of  one  of  the  Yice  Presidents,  JOSEPH  H.  MARSHALL, 
of  Tennessee,  a  devoted  friend  and  liberal  benefactor. 

PUBLICATIONS. 

The  second  and  third  volumes  of  the  Complete  Works 
of  Andrew  Fuller  were  issued  during  the  year.  They 
contain  each  more  pages,  and  cost  more  therefore  to  stereo- 
type and  print  them,  than  the  first.  The  three  volumes 
together  include  2420  pages  octavo,  and  are  sold  for  $7,50. 
"  One  of  the  most  eminent  living  divines  (not  a  Baptist), 
said  that  for  theological  learning  he  read  Fuller  before 
Edwards,  and  advised  students  to  do  so.  The  republica- 
tion  of  his  works  in  so  inviting  a  form  will  bring  them 
forth  to  the  minds  of  the  people,  and  favor  their  more 
general  reading."  Such  is  the  testimony  of  the  Boston 
Recorder. 


43.  Howell  on  Communion,  and  on  the  Deaconsliip. 

Besides  these  noble  volumes,  the  Society  had  stereotyped 
the  "Terms  of  Sacramental  Communion,"  by  R.  B.  C. 
Howell,  D.D. — a  work  already  widely  circulated  at  home, 
and  republished  with  some  additional  matter-of-fact  illus- 
trations abroad.  Also  an  original  and  valuable  work  by 
the  same  author  on  "  The  Deaconship,"  154  pp.,  18mo. 

Other  works  published — "  The  Serpent  Uncoiled  ;  or,  a 
Full-length  Picture  of  Universalism,  by  a  Western  Lay- 
man ;"  "  Scriptural  Tales  for  the  Young,  by  J.  Belcher, 


QUARTERLY   RECORD.       AGENCY.  1G9 

D.D.  ;"  "Tales  of  Truth,  by  R.  Babcock,  D.D.  ;"  and 
"Married  Life,  by  J.  Belcher,  D.D."  The  Baptist  Manual 
has  be-en  revised  and  reprinted.  Also  a  second  edition  of 
"Carson  on  Baptism;"  "  Hinton  on  the  Prophecies," 
and  his  "  History  of  Baptism."  have  been  obtained,  and 
seventy  pages  of  the  latter  already  stereotyped.  Of  the 
Psalmist  5000  copies,  and  of  the  Baptist  Catechism  3000, 
have  been  published.  Also  500  copies  of  an  "Indian 
Hymn  Book,"  in  the  Tuscarora  language,  prepared  by 
Rev.  James  Cuslck  of  that  tribe. 

The  books  circulated  during  the  year  amount  to  $50,000 ; 
in  size,  from  the  royal  octavo  of  1200  pages,  down  to  the 
humble  volume  for  Sabbath-Schools.  Tracts  reprinted, 
18,987  copies;  and  306,401  pages.  New  stereotype 
plates,  2656  pages,  of  which  1792  are  large  octavo,  and 
276  duodecimo.  Of  the  Almanac,  1700  copies  were  circu- 
lated; 2000  of  the  Annual  Report;  5000  extra  copies 
of  the  Record,  and  7,500  of  a  Circular  Tract,  for  the 
purposes  of  the  Society. 


44.  Quarterly  Eecord, 

The  weekly  issue  of  the  "Baptist  Record,"  with  a  list 
of  2,500  subscribers,  ceased  in  January,  1846  ;  and  the 
Quarterly  "Baptist  Record"  took  its  place,  gratuitously 
issued  as  an  organ  of  intercourse  for  the  Society.  The 
other  Baptist  periodicals  mentioned  last  year  are  still 
circulated  from  our  Depository. 

AGENCY. 

Three  Agents  were  employed,  J.  B.  Alcott  in  Western 

New  York,  H.  H.  Haff  in  Western  Massachusetts,  and  S. 

Leach  in  Eastern  Massachusetts,  with  good  success.     The 

Corresponding    Secretary  has    also    visited    13    States, 

15 


170  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

traveled  7,169  miles,  preached  100  sermons,  and  delivered 
45  public  addresses  in  171  days.  He  has  been  sent  by  the 
Board,  "to  each  extreme  of  the  country,  not  to  direct 
public  opinion,  but  to  give  fully  and  frankly  information  of 
our  mode  of  operation,  and  leave  brethren  in  each  section 
to  adjust  their  modes  of  action  in  their  own  way.  If  the 
churches  and  people  are  provided  with  sound  doctrine,  and 
correct  views  of  Christian  character  and  duty  through  the 
Press,  and  the  churches  advance  in  holy  living  and  intelli- 
gence, our  end  is  gained." 

COLPORTEURS. — NEW  VIEWS. 

The  Report  here  enters  upon  a  renewed  exposition  of  all 
that  is  peculiar  in  the  plan  and  modes  of  operations  employed 
by  the  Society,  seeking  year  by  year  to  explain  and  im- 
press all  the  distinguishing  features  of  the  system,  as  here- 
tofore stated,  upon  the  public  mind.  We  quote  only  those 
parts  which  afford  new  light  on  the  two  classes  of  Col- 
porteurs : 

"  On  any  system  devised,  the  transportation  and  circu- 
lation of  books  among  the  people,  adds  not  less  than 
twenty-five  per  cent,  to  their  original  cost.  Would  it  alter 
the  case  in  any  respect,  should  we  put  the  retail  price  of 
our  books  one-fourth  less,  and  then  call  on  the  churches 
for  contributions  to  pay  the  expense  of  their  circulation  ? 
We  prefer  (and  we  are  confident  a  very  large  majority  of 
the  denomination  prefer),  that  the  expenses  of  ColporkHje, 
should  come  from  the  sales  of  the  books,  and  not  from  Un- 
people under  the  name  of  charitable  donations."  It  is  far 
preferable  to  give  away  books  to  needy  ministers  for  libra- 
ries, or  to  feeble  Sabbath- Schools,  or  to  the  poor  and 
destitute  in  the  new  settlements,  who  would  thankfully 
receive  such  gifts  and  profit  by  them,  than  to  give  a  few 
cents  to  each  purchaser  in  the  reduced  price  of  his  books. 
This  is  a  vital  principle  in  our  scheme  of  operations ;  it 


MISSIONARY   COLPORTAGE.  171 

works  well,  and  only  needs  to  be  understood  to  command 
general  approbation.  It  is  eminently  adapted  to  the  con- 
dition of  the  Baptist  churches  in  two -thirds  of  the  United 
States,  where  a  large  proportion  of  our  ministers  are 
itinerant  preachers  for  a  greater  or  less  portion  of  their 
time,  as  circumstances  admit.  We  are  not  advocating  the 
policy,  but  simply  stating  the  facts.  Thirty-five  years  by- 
gone, and  a  large  majority  of  the  Baptist  ministers  in  New 
England  and  in  the  State  of  New  York,  preached  the 
Gospel  under  these  circumstances,  as  a  large  majority  now 
do  throughout  the  Southern  and  Western  States.  It  is 
this  class  of  men  that  have  broken  up  the  fallow  ground, 
and  sown  the  seed  of  the  word  broad-cast  over  the  prairies 
and  through  the  forests  of  the  Western  Yalley.  Under 
their  ministrations  revivals  have  been  enjoyed,  converts 
baptized,  churches  formed,  and  the  rough  places  made 
plain.  These  men  make  the  best  description  of  Colpor- 
teurs. 

"  Our  churches,  and  ministers,  and  Sabbath-Schools,  and 
whole  people,  must  have  books ;  and  the  circulation  of 
these  books  should  be  connected  with  the  personal  labors 
of  the  itinerant  minister.  He  must  be  qualified  to  preach 
and  administer  ordinances,  and  set  things  in  order  in  the 
destitute  churches,  and  carry  with  him  the  influence  and 
moral  power  of  a  preaching  missionary.  Why  should 
Baptists  employ  laymen  (however  pious  and  estimable) 
when  they  have  so  many  worthy  and  good  men  in  the  min- 
istry, whose  usefulness  would  be  much  increased,  were  they 
constantly  devoted  to  the  two-fold  work  of  circulating 
religious  books  and  preaching  the  Gospel  to  the  destitute  ? 
These  ministers,  in  most  cases,  can  be  found  in  the  field 
where  their  labors  are  needed. 

"  There  is  nothing  visionary,  romantic,  or  of  doubtful  ex- 
pediency in  this  policy.  It  is  a  plain  matter-of-fact  busi- 
ness, easily  carried  out  in  one,  a  hundred,  or  a  thousand 


172  AMERICAN    BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

instances.  With  a  ministry  thus  circumstanced,  and  living 
where  Colporteur  labors  are  more  especially  needed : — a 
ministry  now  compelled  to  employ  two-thirds  or  three- 
fourths  of  their  time  in  secular  pursuits  ;  with  the  means 
of  conveyance  in  their  own  possession;  habituated  to 
spend  much  time  in  the  work  of  the  Lord  absent  from  their 
families  ;  and  whose  services  would  be  far  more  abundant 
with  such  aid  as  the  system  of  our  Society  affords,  surely 
Baptists  need  not  employ  laymen,  and  pay  their  expenses 
to  distant  fields,  and  neglect  the  more  economical  and 
efficient  mode  here  urged. 


45.  Colporteur  Missionaries. 

"But  there  are  v^st  fields  of  destitution  in  our  country, 
and  especially  in  the  Great  Western  Valley,  where  a  modi- 
fication of  the  system  is  required.  This  is  the  second 
point  of  view  proposed.  The  great  principle  of  action 
still  is  to  employ  our  own  ministers,  but  on  a  small  salary, 
in  addition  to  the  percentage  on  sales.  In  our  last  Re- 
port, the  proposal  was  submitted  to  sustain  a  Colporteur 
Missionary  for  one  year,  in  some  destitute  field,  for  each 
donation  of  $100  specially  given  for  that  purpose. — We 
have  not  the  least  objection,  if  the  churches  and  brethren 
will  it,  that  these  men  should  receive  the  same  compensation 
as  another  Society  pays  laymen — besides  furnishing  their 
outfit,  traveling  and  transportation  expenses.  But  for  the 
present  we  can  find  men  to  labor  on  the  terms  proposed. 
There  is  an  exception  to  be  made  in  the  case  of  German 
missionaries,  who  have  not  the  same  facilities  for  selling 
books  to  their  own  people. — But  no  man  is  employed  on 
mere  pledges.  The  money  for  his  salary  must  be  in  the 
Treasury  before  Lite  u^xtiidnictit  is  made.  From  forty 


COLPORTEUR   MISSIONARIES.  173 

to  sixty  days  arc  then  required  before  he  can  get  his  books, 
and  go  to  work. 

"Each  Colporteur  Missionary  is  instructed  to  report 
specifically  his  labors  monthly ;  and  when  desired,  he  will 
write  quarterly  to  the  church,  company,  or  individual  that 
contributes  his  salary.  Those  who  give  to  this  fund,  have 
the  right  to  say  in  what  State,  or  particular  field  they  would 
have  it  applied,  and  their  wishes  consulted  as  to  the  par- 
ticular man  they  prefer." 

The  Report  then  gives  an  interesting  sketch,  with  ex- 
tracts from  the  reports  of  this  latter  class  of  Colporteur 
missionaries,  to  show  the  efficiency  of  this  scheme  of  opera- 
tion. Ten  had  been  employed  during  the  year.  A.  B. 
Harris,  A.  B.  Roundtree,  D.  R.  Murphy,  W.  H.  Briggs, 
T.  M.  Yance,  E.  J.  Robinson,  C.  H.  Bootright,  R. 
Cheadle,  R.  W.  Waterman,  and  D.  Rothen.  The  last 
named  is  a  German.  His  appointment  opens  a  new  sphere 
of  labor  and  responsibility  to  the  Board. 

"  No  specific  returns  of  labor  performed  are  received  at 
our  rooms  from  that  numerous  class  of  missionaries  employed 
by  Associations,  State  Conventions,  and  Auxiliary  Publi- 
cation Societies ;  or  of  those  who  labor  without  special 
commissions.  Those  under  commission  report  their  labors 
to  the  Societies  they  serve.  These  are  chiefly  sustained  by 
perquisites  on  sales. 

"The  Board  have  deemed  it  their  duty  to  prosecute 
this  branch  of  their  labors  (Colportage)  with  due  caution. 
They  are  projecting  an  enterprise  of  immeasurable  im- 
portance to  our  denomination  and  the  whole  country; 
bringing  into  a  sphere  of  usefulness  and  efficiency  a  class 
of  ministers  who  hitherto  have  been  much  embarrassed 
from  providential  circumstances ;  and  they  desire  to  have 
those  churches  and  brethren  to  whom  they  look  for  counsel 
and  aid,  to  become  convinced  of  the  wisdom  of  their 
measures,  not  by  artificial  and  temporary  modes  of  excite- 
15* 


174  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

ment,  but  by  the  reiteration  of  facts  and  the  result  of  ex- 
periment." 

GERMAN   POPULATION. 

In  consequence  of  the  appointment  of  Mr.  David  Rothen 
to  labor  in  this  new  field,  the  Report  enters  into  some 
details  as  to  its  extent  and  leading  features. 

"  The  emigrants  from  Germany  into  the  United  States 
within  the  last  twenty  years,  with  their  children  born 
in  this  country,  who  speak  the  same  language,  exceed 
1,500,000.  From  various  sources  of  information,  and 
principally  from  Germans  themselves,  we  learn  that  in  a 
religions  point  of  view  they  are  about  equally  divided  into 
three  classes.  One-third  are  Romanists,  one-third  are 
Lutherans,  and  one-third  irreligious,  if  not  directly  infidel 
in  their  views.  Lutherauism  in  Germany  has  degenerated 
into  formalism  and  superstition,  as  every  state  religion  will 
in  time.  The  mischievous  dogma  of  baptismal  regeneration 
lies  at  the  foundation.  The  Roman  Catholic  Germans  are 
more  liberal  and  accessible  to  Gospel  truth  than  other 
Catholics.  Many  have  been  already  converted,  chiefly 
through  the  labors  of  Methodist  missionaries.  Colporteurs 
of  the  American  Tract  Society  have  done  great  good  by 
the  circulation  of  books  and  tracts  in  German.  God  has 
providentially  now  thrown  on  our  hands  a  German  brother, 
well  qualified  to  labor  among  this  class  of  our  popu- 
lation." 

The  following  letter  from  Rev.  J.  L.  Moore,  Secretary 
of  the  Ohio  State  Convention,  dated  July  21,  1845,  gives 
tin-  history  of  the  case. 

"We  have  a  German  brother,  Ihivul  Kothcn,  now 
residing  in  Putnam  county,  Ohio,  who  has  recently  united 
with  the  Baptist  Church.  He  is  a  licentiate,  of  strong 
mind,  fliibnt.ant.ial  piety,  and  exhibits  a  good  degree  of 
energy  and  zeal  in  the  cause  of  truth.  Since  he  has  be- 
come a  Baptist,  he  discovers  the  first  and  great  error  of 


COLPORTEUR   MISSIONARIES.  175 

his  German  brethren,  is  in  reference  to  baptismal  regene- 
ration and  infant  church  membership.  He  would  be  glad 
of  some  arrangement  by  which  he  could  labor  for  their 
spiritual  good  untrumineled,  and  circulate  Tracts. 

"  Has  the  American  Baptist  Publication  Society  any 
German  books  or  German  tracts  ?  What  can  the  Society 
do  towards  sustaining  an  efficient  laborer,  partly  as  a 
missionary  and  partly  as  a  Colporteur,  among  the  German 
population  of  Ohio  (amounting  to  300,000  souls)?  The 
subject  has  been  before  the  Board  of  our  State  Convention, 
and  we  feel  prepared  to  do  something,  but  our  resources 
will  not  justify  us  in  giving  a  missionary  a  full  support. 

"If  Bro.  R.,  whose  education  is  good,  should  prepare 
two  or  three  Tracts,  which  should  be  approved  as  valuable, 
could  the  Society  publish  them  in  the  German  language  ? 
And  if  so,  could  they  sustain  him  as  a  laborer  ?  He  is  a 
poor  man,  and  $150  per  annum  would  be  a  small  support." 

Mr.  Moore  adds  in  a  letter  received  Nov.  16th,  that  the 
Convention  had  voted  to  add  $50,  in  case  of  Bro.  Rothen's 
appointment,  making  his  salary  $200.  "  The  Board  had 
good  written  recommendations  before  them,  when  the  above 
resolution  was  passed." 

On  receiving  his  commission  from  our  Society,  Bro. 
Rothen  wrote :  "  I  thank  the  Board  for  their  confidence 
in  me,  and  I  pray  to  our  common  Master,  that  I  may  be, 
though  humble  and  weak,  a  successful  laborer  for  this  great 
and  glorious  cause. — It  is  highly  important  that  I  should 
have  some  denominational  works  in  German  to  circulate." 
The  Board  purchased  a  temporary  supply  of  German 
books  from  the  American  Tract  Society.  But  there  is  now 
no  other  alternative  but  to  have  a  supply  of  tracts  and 
books  in  the  German  language  published  by  our  Society. 
We  need  Pengilly's  Scripture  Guide  to  Baptism,  already 
translated  by  Mr.  Oncken  for  circulation  in  Germany,  with 
other  Tracts  suited  to  lead  inquirers  from  the  destructive 


IT 6  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 

errors  that  cluster  around  and  spring  from  that  monstrous 
and  soul-destroying  error,  the  dogma  of  baptismal  regene- 
ration, in  its  mystical  efficacy  in  the  removal  of  original 
sin  in  the  unconscious  infant,  or  conscious  but  unconverted 
adult,  and  the  saving  virtue  of  the  '  Holy  Eucharist,'  and 
other  religious  rites. 

"  The  simplicity,  spirituality,  and  scriptural  views  of 
the  regular  Baptists  in  Gospel  doctrine  and  ordinances, 
are  admirably  adapted  to  guide  the  inquiring  German  to 
the  Cross  of  Christ." 

AUXILIARIES  AND    CO-OPERATION 

Efficient  Auxiliaries  are  reported  this  year  from  North 
Carolina,  Yirginia,  Mississippi,  Tennessee,  New  Hamp- 
shire, Missouri,  Illinois,  and  Ohio  State  organizations. 
Votes  of  co-operation  also  were  passed  in  the  State  Con- 
ventions of  Maine,  Vermont,  Massachusetts,  Connecticut, 
New  York,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Georgia,  Alabama, 
Kentucky,  Indiana,  Michigan,  and  Iowa ;  besides  the  reso- 
lutions of  over  thirty  Associations  in  different  States, 
cited  in  the  Annual  Report  of  the  Society. 

GRATUITIES. 

Nineteen  Ministers'  Libraries  and  three  Sunday-School 
Libraries  were  gratuitously  distributed  the  last  year  ;  each 
of  the  value  of  $10.  Within  the  last  three  years  the  total 
number  of  these  libraries  is  56.  They  have  drawn  forth 
from  the  receivers  many  expressions  of  gratitude.  In 
addition  to  the  libraries,  the  grants  of  books  and  tracts  for 
the  year  amount  to  $232.10. 

LIFE   MEMBERS  AND   MANAGERS. 

Seventy-five  Life  Members,  and  five  Life  Managers  were 
added  this  year. 


THE   FOREIGN   FIELD.  177 


PROPERTY   OF   THE    SOCIETY. 

The  valuation  of  stereotype  plates  and  stock  amounts  to 
$16,918.09;  of  which  the  new  plates  cast  this  year  cost 
$5,114.94.  The  gain  to  the  Society  during  the  year  is 
$4,176.60.  The  legacies  received,  amount  to  $310.41. 
Others  expected  in  a  short  time  amount  to  $2,505.34. 

THE   FOREIGN   FIELD. 

Pressing  calls  are  coming  from  the  Foreign  Mission  field 
for  aid  in  publishing  Books  and  Tracts — particularly  of  that 
class  which  comes  within  the  appropriate  sphere  of  no 
Society  but  this.  We  are  required,  as  a  denomination,  to 
give  every  portion  of  truth  and  exhibit  every  law  of  the 
Saviour  to  converts  from  Heathenism,  Judaism,  Romanism, 
Lutheranism,  or  any  other  corrupted  form  of  Christianity. 
It  is  to  this  Society,  therefore,  our  Missionaries  look  for  aid 
in  publishing  those  works  that  contain  any  of  the  distinctive 
truths  held  by  the  Baptists. 

From  Germany,  Bro.  Oncken  has  applied  for  $90  to 
enable  him  to  stereotype  his  translation  of  Pengilly — the 
first  edition  of  which  has  been  some  time  exhausted,  and  a 
second  loudly  called  for.  It  is  a  work  eminently  adapted 
to  the  German  population,  both  of  Europe  and  America,  as 
it  effectually  destroys  the  fundamental  error  of  baptismal  re- 
generation, so  generally  prevalent  among  them,  and  to  which 
they  cling,  as  did  the  Jews  to  circumcision,  to  the  ruin -of  the 
soul.  Already  $70  of  the  $90  required,  is  received. 
Besides  this,  Bro.  Oncken  asks  for  $100  to  circulate  Tracts 
in  Holland.  He  says :  "  The  glorious  work  in  which  I 
and  many  other  dear  brethren  are  engaged  in  Germany, 
Denmark,  and  of  late  in  Holland,  is  so  much  extending, 
and  the  opportunities  for  spreading  the  blessed  Gospel  and 
restoring  the  ancient  landmarks  of  the  Church  of  Christ, 
are  so  much  multiplied,  that  I  must  once  more  come  before 


178  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 

the  Managers  of  your  Society  as  an  humble  beggar,  pray- 
ing for  some  support  in  our  great  emergency.  Then  after 
speaking  of  Pengilly  in  German,  as  noticed  above,  he 
adds: 

"  As  the  Lord  has  opened,  I  trust,  a  wide  door  for  us  in 
Holland,  and  given  us,  in  brother  Feisser,  formerly  minister 
in  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  a  dear  and  competent 
fellow-laborer,  we  are  most  desirous  to  have  one  or  two 
denominational  Tracts  out  in  Dutch,  as  early  as  possible. 
For  the  present,  $100  would  suffice."  Then  after  speaking 
of  the  usefulness  of  Tracts,  he  continued  : 

"  The  Lord  is  evidently  preparing  the  way  for  a  great 
and  glorious  work,  and  it  is  for  us  to  be  at  our  post,  for  it 
is  by  the  preaching  of  the  Cross  that  the  purposes  of  his 
love  are  to  be  accomplished.  We  crave  your  prayers." 

An  application  for  $300  for  similar  purposes  has  come 
from  France.  The  Rev.  J.  B.-  Cretin,  of  the  French  Mis- 
sion, has  prepared  a  "History  of  Baptism"  in  French, 
which  it  is  the  wish  of  the  Mission  to  have  published, 
together  with  some  denominational  Tracts. 

From  China,  Dr.  Macgowan,  missionary  at  Ningpo,  ap- 
plies for  an  appropriation  to  publish  a  "  Manual  for  Church 
Members,"  to  be  prepared  by  Bro.  Goddard.  He  thus 
warmly  speaks  of  our  Society  : 

"  The  institution  with  whose  interests  you  are  now  par- 
ticularly identified,  lies  very  near  my  heart.  I  was  present 
at  its  reorganization  at  New  York,  and  have  watched  its 
course  with  much  interest,  sympathizing  with  it  in  its 
struggles,  and  rejoicing  in  its  success.  And  now,  though 
as  far  removed  from  its  centre  of  operations  as  I  well  can 
be,  I  am  no  less  concerned  for  its  prosperity — for  whatever 
system  of  operations  becomes  useful  in  elevating  the  piety 
and  improving  the  knowledge  of  American  Baptists, 
must  as  a  consequence  quickly  tell  upon  the  spiritual  state 
of  their  Foreign  Missions.  While  it  is  a  matter  of  deep 


CORRESPONDING   SECRETARY.  179 

regret  that  an  institution  of  so  much  importance  to  the 
best  interests  of  the  denomination,  should  still  be  so  limited 
in  its  resources,  and  so  imperfectly  appreciated,  I  trust 
that  so  far  from  causing  its  friends  to  be  discouraged,  it 
will  only  stimulate  them  to  renewed  efforts  in  its  behalf." 

In  reference  to  the  proposed  "  Manual  for  Church  Mem- 
bers," Dr.  Macgowan  says :  "Nearly  all  the  principal  sects 
of  Christendom  are  represented  in  China,  and  nowhere  will 
new  converts  require  more  doctrinal  instruction  than 
here." 

CORRESPONDING   SECRETARY. 

The  Corresponding  Secretary,  Rev.  J.  M.  PECK,  gave 
notice  in  the  summer  that  he  intended  to  resign  at  the  close 
of  the  year,  and  recommended  Rev.  THOMAS  S.  MALCOM, 
of  Louisville,  Ky.,  as  his  successor.  The  reasons  assigned 
by  Bro.  Peck  for  his  resignation,  were  the  encouraging 
prospects  of  the  Society  on  the  one  hand,  and  his  own  age, 
distance,  and  absence  from  his  family. 

"  In  September,  accordingly,  his  resignation  was  accepted, 
and  Bro.  Malcom  chosen  to  take  his  place  at  the  next 
Anniversary.  After  much  deliberation,  Bro.  Malcom  ac- 
cepted the  appointment.  The  Corresponding  Secretary, 
therefore,  after  three  years  official  relation,  retires  from  his 
post,  with  unabated  attachment  to  the  Society  and  the 
Board,  and  "  with  the  assurance  that  Providence  has  pointed 
out  a  successor  in  the  vigor  of  early  manhood,  with  the 
talents,  zeal,  and  industry  peculiarly  desirable  in  carrying 
forward  this  enterprise,  and  whose  services  have  been 
anxiously  sought  for  by  the  Managers  of  a  kindred  So- 
ciety." 

CONCLUSION. 

The  sketch  given  in  this  Report  of  our  Colporteur  de- 
partment and  its  peculiar  features,  illustrates  and  proves 
the  importance  of  every  department  of  our  operations  as  a 
complete  system. 


ISO  AMERICAN  BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY 

"We  cannot  sustain  Colporteurs,  either  in  whole  or  in 
part,  unless  we  have  sufficient  capital  invested  in  books, 
and  these  in  sufficient  quantities,  and  of  great  variety. 
Copyrights,  stereotyping,  printing,  and  binding,  cost  the 
Society  the  same  as  they  do  any  other  publisher.  The 
Society  never  has  owned  a  printing-office.  The  Board  of 
Managers  hire  their  work  done  by  the  job,  at  stated  prices, 
and  on  the  same  terms  as  the  same  kind  of  work  and  ma- 
terials cost  any  of  the  large  publishing  houses  in  this  city. 
Hence  the  Board  cannot  go  into  the  market,  buy  books, 
and  furnish  Colporteurs  at  the  customary  discount  prices 
of  our  publications.  No  Publication  Society  does  this. 
There  is  a  class  of  books  which  are  published  by  others, 
and  which  we  must  have,  and  are  obliged  to  purchase  on 
the  best  terms  we  can,  or  which  we  obtain  by  special  ex- 
change for  our  publications.  Hence  every  additional 
volume  we  add  to  our  stock,  increases  in  that  degree  our 
facilities  for  sustaining  Colporteurs. 

"But  even  when  furnished  with  books,  the  Colporteur  can- 
not be  sustained  unless  he  can  sell  the  books  at  such  prices 
as  will  yield  a  percentage  of  at  least  one-fourth  our  cost. 
Every  Baptist  who  buys  a  book  of  the  Society  x  or  its  Col- 
porteur, should  keep  in  mind  that  he  pays  a  trifle  to  get 
that  book  from  Philadelphia  to  his  door,  or  to  carry  books 
and  sustain  missionaries  amongst  the  destitute.  Our  books 
are  sold  lower  than  books  of  equal  quality  usually  are  by 
the  best  publishing  houses,  and  the  retail  price  of  each 
book  at  the  Depository  is  established  by  a  uniform  rule; 

"  In  closing  this  Report  the  Board  desire  to  give  thanks 
for  the  success  that  has  attended  their  labors,  and  they 
earnestly  solicit  for  the  American  Baptist  Publication  So- 
ciety the  fervent  prayers  and  liberal  contributions  of  those 
who  love  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  desire  the  advance- 
ment of  his  kingdom." 


THE   TEN   THOUSAND   DOLLAR  FUND.  181 


46.  Resolutions.     Resignation  of  Rev.  J.  M.  Peck. 

The  motion  to  adopt  and  publish  the  Annual  Report, 
was  sustained  by  addresses  from  Rev.  G.  J.  Miles,  G.  B. 
Ide,  J.  M.  Challiss,  and  F.  Ketchum,  and  unanimously 
carried. 

A  special  meeting  was  appointed  in  Brooklyn,  Monday, 
May  18. 

Resolutions  in  favor  of  the  Colporteur  Missionary  system 
of  aid  for  the  Foreign  Field,  and  of  the  union  of  the  living 
teacher  and  the  Press  as  the  safeguard  from  pernicious 
error,  and  diffuser  of  Gospel  truth,  were  offered  by  Rev. 
J.  M.  Peck,  J.  Dowling,  and  Thomas  S.  Malcom.  They 
were  sustained  by  appropriate  addresses,  and  unanimously 
passed. 

It  was  also  "  Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Society 
are  most  heartily  tendered  to  our  beloved  brother  PECK, 
for  his  important  and  indefatigable  services  rendered  in 
behalf  of  this  Society ;  the  effects  of  which  are  seen  in  the 
augmentation  of  its  capital  over  $9000  during  his  term  of 
official  connection  with  it ;  and  felt  in  its  Colporteur  and 
other  agencies  put  in  successful  operation  during  that 
period  of  time." 


47.  The  Ten  Thousand  Dollar  Fund,  for  Gratuities. 

But  the  most  important  measure  was  the  following, 
offered  by  Thomas  Wattson,  Esq.,  from  the  Committee  on 
Finance,  which  he  not  only  earnestly  advocated,  but 
pledged  himself  for  one-twentieth  of  the  sum  proposed  : 

"  Resolved,  That  an  effort  be  made  to  raise  by  subscrip- 
tion a  Special  Fund  of  $10,000  for  the  use  of  this  Society; 
the  interest  of  which  shall  be  appropriated  exclusively  to 
the  gratuitous  distribution  of  its  books  and  tracts  among 
16 


182  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

the  destitute,  at  the  discretion  of  the  Board  of  Managers ; 
and  that  the  said  subscriptions  be  made  payable  in  four 
equal  quarterly  installments,  commencing  when  the  whole 
amount  is  subscribed." 

Pledges  were  given  from  five  individuals  to  the  amount 
of  $2000. 


48.  Special  Meeting  at  Brooklyn. 

At  the  Special  Meeting  in  May,  held  with  the  First 
Baptist  Church  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  a  preliminary  meeting 
was  held  in  the  afternoon,  May  18,  at  which  interesting 
statements  were  made  by  the  new  Corresponding  Secre- 
tary, T.  S.  Malcom,  followed  by  addresses  from  J.  B. 
Olcott,  J.  Peck,  and  B.  M.  Hill,  Corresponding  Secretary 
of  the  American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society. — Mr.  Hill 
said,  that  his  connection  with  Home  Missions  had  caused 
him  to  feel  the  value  and  importance  of  the  Publication  So- 
ciety. The  missionaries  were  continually  invoking  his  good 
offices  in  the  way  of  procuring  grants.  He  was  certain  he 
had  letters  on  file,  which,  if  read,  would  affect  brethren  to 
tears.  He  concluded  by  saying  that  he  regarded  the  So- 
ciety as  "the  right  arm  of  Home  Missions." 

At  the  evening  session,  resolutions  were  offered,  and  ad- 
dresses made  by  Rev.  J.  Taylor  Jones,  missionary  from 
Siam,  E.  L.  Magoon,  of  Richmond,  Ya.,  J.  Booth  of 
Michigan,  L.  Tucker,  of  Buffalo;  also  by  T.  Wattson, 
and  Wm.  Bucknell,  of  Philadelphia,  who  presented  and 
pressed  the  Ten  Thousand  Dollar  Fund.  They  were 
warmly  sustained  by  Rev.  Alfred  Bennet,  of  New  York. 

"The  following  resolution  was  presented  by  Rev.  S. 
B.  Swaim,  of  Worcester,  Mass.,  and  was  unanimously 
adopted : 


DEFECT  OP   MATERIALS.  183 

"  Resolved,  That  the  pastors  of  churches  be  requested  to 
present  the  claims  of  this  Society  once  during  the  year." 

On  motion  of  Rev.  A.  H.  Stowell,  of  Vermont,  it  was, 

"  Resolved,  That  the  American  Baptist  Publication  So- 
ciety is  of  equal  importance,  in  its  place,  with  the  Foreign, 
the  Home  Mission,  and  the  Bible  Societies,  in  the  reno- 
vation of  our  land  ;  and  that  it  is  eminently  deserving  of  a 
better  support  than  it  has  hitherto  received." 

On  motion  of  Rev.  Levi  Tucker,  of  Buffalo,  it  was, 

"Resolved,  That  the  Colporteur  System  of  this  Society 
commends  itself  to  our  churches  for  its  economy,  adapta- 
tion to  the  circumstances  of  many  Baptist  ministers,  its 
facilities  for  providing  valuable  instruction  to  destitute 
churches,  and  its  effect  on  the  ministers  who  engage  in  it." 

On  motion  of  Rev.  J.  Taylor  Jones,  missionary  from 
Siam,  it  was, 

"Resolved,  That  the  calls  for  aid  from  the  FOREIGN 
FIELD  upon  the  treasury  of  the  American  Baptist  Publi- 
cation Society,  should  be  responded  to  by  our  brethren  in 
liberal  contributions  for  this  specific  object. " 

On  motion  of  Rev.  John  Dowliug,  of  New  York,  it  was 
unanimously, 

"  Resolved,  That  in  the  publication  of  the  valuable  works 
of  standard  Baptist  literature,  the  Board  of  the  Society  are 
performing  a  work  of  vast  importance  to  the  prosperity 
and  growth  of  our  denomination,  and  one  which  deserves 
the  sincere  gratitude,  and  should  claim  the  liberal  co-opera- 
tion of  every  American  Baptist." 


49.  Defect  of  Materials. 

At  this  point  of  time,  the  light  of  the  published  Annual 
Report  fails  for  six  years  ;  none  being  published  in  separate 
form  for  that  period  ;  although  with  the  exception  of  Col- 


184  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

porteur  Statistics,  they  were  annually  prepared  and  pre- 
sented. The  main  facts  were  published  in  the  Quarterly 
Baptist  Record,  and  condensed  in  the  Baptist  Almanac  of 
each  year.  From  these  sources  we  shall  draw  them,  and 
arrange  them  in  this  historical  document. 


50.  Twenty-Third  Annual  Meeting,  1847. 

The  Annual  Meeting  in  1847,  (the  Twenty-Third  Anni- 
versary) was  held  with  the  Eleventh  Baptist  Church,  Phila- 
delphia, Wednesday,  April  28 ;  the  President,  J.  H.  Ken- 
nard,  in  the  chair.  A  half  hour  was  devoted  to  special 
prayer  for  the  Divine  blessing,  with  brethren  G.  B.  Ide,  G. 
S.  Webb,  and  J.  B.  Olcott. 

From  the  Treasurer's  Report  it  appeared  that  the  re- 
ceipts for  the  year  ending  April  15,  1847,  were  $24,271,  a 
larger  sum  than  in  any  previous  year.  This  includes 
$2,116,  received  for  other  benevolent  societies,  and  paid 
over  to  them,  as  usual.  Thirty-six  Life  Members  and  four 
Life  Managers  were  added  to  the  Society.  Legacies, 
$2,367. 

A  document  was  read  by  B.  R.  Loxley,  Assistant  Trea- 
surer, showing  two  important  facts — first,  that  loans  to  the 
amount  of  $3,300,  mostly  made  the  preceding  year,  had 
been  paid  off;  and  secondly,  that  the  sales,  amounting  to 
$13,320.50,  had  paid  all  the  expenses  of  every  description 
for  the  year,  leaving  a  balance  in  favor  of  the  Society. 
Hence,  all  the  contributions  for  Colporteur  Fund,  Minis- 
ters' Libraries,  Ten  Thousand  Dollar  Plan,  for  German 
Tracts,  &c.,  were  left  perfectly  whole. 


ANNUAL  REPORT  OF  THE  BOARD.         185 


51.  Annual  Eeport  of  the  Board. 

The  Annual  Report  was  read  by  the  Corresponding 
Secretary,  Rev.  THOMAS  S.  MALCOM.  Several  books  be- 
gun last  year  had  been  stereotyped,  viz.:  Hinton's  History 
of  Baptism,  Ho  well's  Communion,  and  Married  Life  by  Dr. 
Belcher.  New  editions  were  printed  of  The  Psalmist, 
Banyan's  Holy  War,  Booth's  Reign  of  Grace,  Pengilly 
and  Jewett  on  Baptism,  &c.,  &c.  The  first  edition  of 
Ho  well  on  the  Deaconship,  1000  copies,  was  sold  in  six 
months,  and  highly  approved.  A  new  work,  by  Rev.  S.  W. 
Lynd,  on  "  Sacrifice  and  Atonement,"  was  issued.  Of  the 
Almanac  10,000  copies  were  printed  ;  5000  of  the  Annual 
Report  for  1846  ;  and  17,500  copies  of  the  Quarterly 
Baptist  Record.  Two  new  Tracts  were  added,  (one  in 
German,)  and  the  total  number  of  pages  of  Tracts  printed 
was  double  that  of  the  preceding  year,  being  about  613,000. 
The  Society  now  had  of  its  own  publications  51  volumes, 
and  181  Tracts. 

The  number  of  Libraries  granted  to  Sabbath-schools, 
and  for  Ministers,  had  exhausted  the  "  Yalley  Fund,"  and 
many  applications  could  not  be  answered  for  lack  of  means. 

The  $10,000  Plan  met  with  favor,  and  $5000  of  it  had 
been  subscribed. 

The  Building  Fund  reached  $1,659.97,  paid  in,  and  on 
interest.  It  is  secured  by  mortgage  on  the  stereotype 
plates,  whose  value  is  now  $7,826.61.  The  value  of  stock 
in  books  and  tracts  (at  one-third  discount  from  the  regular 
prices)  is  $7,962.72.  Total  assets,  $15,789.33,  without 
any  liabilities  abroad. 

BOOKS   CIRCULATED.    FULLER'S   WORKS. 

About  50,000  bound  volumes  were  put  in  circulation 
during  the  year,  including  700  of  Fuller's  works  in  large 
16* 


186  AMERICAN   BAFTIST  PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

octavo  volumes.  These  alone  contain  nearly  2,000,000  of 
pages.  These  works  have  everywhere  been  received  with 
great  favor,  among  all  evangelical  denominations.  The 
beautiful  style  of  our  edition  has  also  received  high  com- 
mendation. The  venerable  Dr.  Alexander,  of  Princeton, 
has  said  in  a  recent  article  in  the  Biblical  Repository, 
"  Perhaps  no  theological  writer  of  modern  times,  would 
have  more  of  those  who  are  now  termed  Calvinists  agree- 
ing with  him.  And  for  ourselves,  we  greatly  prefer  the 
theology  of  Andrew  Fuller  to  that  of  Crisp  and  Gill,  and 
feel  truly  gratified  to  think  that  his  views  appear  to  be  so 
generally  embraced  by  the  ministers  of  his  own  denomina- 
tion. We  have  made  up  our  mind  never  to  contend  with 
any  man  for  agreeing  in  doctrinal  points  with  Andrew 
Fuller  ;  and  it  is  in  the  hope  of  increasing  the  number  of 
those  who  shall  read  his  works,  that  we  have  been  induced 
to  write  this  review."  Such  testimony  from  a  Professor 
of  Theology  who  taught  more  than  1500  theological  stu- 
dents, spread  over  the  Presbyterian  denomination  in  the 
United  States  and  in  heathen  lands,  is  invaluable.  We 
will  add  that  of  another  distinguished  man,  whose  influence 
is  not  surpassed  by  that  of  any  man  amongst  the  Congre- 
gationalist  and  Western  Presbyterian  churches — Dr.  Ly- 
man  Beecher.  He  says,  "  A  better  service  for  the  truth, 
to  the  present  day,  can  scarcely  be  done,  than  by  the 
extensive  circulation  of  the  works  of  Andrew  Fuller." 
Similar  testimony  has  been  borne  by  the  London  Eclectic 
Review,  the  Christian  Review,  and  the  Western  Baptist 
Review,  besides  innumerable  other  periodicals — including 
even  the  Richmond  Christian  Advocate,  Methodist,  which 
however  excepts  his  Calvinism. 

To  Rev.  J.  G.  Oncken  the  sum  of  $100  was  forwarded 
for  the  circulation  of  tracts  in  Holland,  and  also  the  sum 
necessary  for  stereotyping  Pengilly's  Scripture  Guide  in 
German,  and  providing  us  a  set  of  duplicate  plates. 


RESOLUTIONS.  187 


AGENCIES. 

J.  B.  Olcott  and  H.  H.  Haff  have  labored  in  New 
England  and  New  York,  and  A.  H.  Stowell  was  recently 
appointed  for  Vermont,  for  a  short  time.  The  Correspond- 
ing Secretary  has  attended  public  meetings  and  visited 
churches  in  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Dela- 
ware, Maryland,  District  of  Columbia  and  Virginia.  He 
has  secured  $2,500  on  the  $10,000  Fund.  But  the  Board 
have  avoid-ed  all  unnecessary  expenses  in  this  department. 

COLPORTAGE. 

Here  there  has  been  much  enlargement.  About  20  Mis- 
sionary Colporteurs  are  now  laboring  for  the  Society  in 
eleven  different  States  of  the  Union,  with  the  most  en- 
couraging results.  The  printed  page  has  been  accompanied 
with  earnest  appeals  and  fervent  prayer,  and  precious  souls 
have  been  won  to  Christ.  Two  of  our  Colporteurs  are 
Germans,  one  of  whom  had  been  a  Roman  Catholic. 

The  Report  closes  with  an  appeal  for  aid,  particularly 
from  the  female  members  of  our  churches.  It  was  acceoted 
for  publication. 


52.  Resolutions. 

Rev.  Conrad  A.  Flcischman,  of  the  German  Baptist 
Church,  Philadelphia,  offered  and  advocated  the  following 
resolution  : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  vastly  increasing  population  of 
Germans  in  America  claims  now  the  attention  and  activity 
of  the  American  Baptists,  and  especially  of  this  Society,  to 
give  them  the  Word  of  Truth  as  they  have  received  it  from 
the  Lord." 


188  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 

On  motion  of  Rev.  J.  B.  Olcott,  of  Parma,  N.  T.,  sus- 
tained by  him : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  cheering  results  of  the  Society's 
Colporteurs,  the  past  year,  furnish  increased  evidence  of 
the  adaptation  of  this  Society  to  reach  and  benefit  desti- 
tute and  neglected  portions  of  our  country,  and  encourage 
greatly  increased  exertions  in  carrying  forward  this  im- 
portant enterprise." 

On  motion  of  Thomas  Wattson,  Esq.,  seconded  by  Rev. 
B.  R.  Loxley, 

"  Resolved.,  That  increased  exertions  should  be  made  to 
obtain  the  balance  of  the  $10,000  Fund,  that  this  most 
desirable  object  may  be  fully  accomplished." 

On  motion  of  Rev.  Eugenio  Kincaid,  of  the  Burman 
Mission, 

"Resolved,  That  the  calls  for  aid  from  the  foreign  field 
upon  the  treasury  of  the  A.  B.  Publication  Society,  should 
be  responded  to  by  our  brethren  in  liberal  contributions 
for  that  specific  object." 

On  motion  of  Rev.  Luke  Davis,  of  Morrisvile,  N.  Y., 

"  Resolved,  That  the  plan  of  making  donations  of  small 
libraries  to  destitute  ministers,  commends  itself  to  pur  sym- 
pathies, and  calls  for  our  cheerful  co-operation." 

The  addresses  of  brethren  Fleischman,  Davis,  Olcott  and 
Kincaid,  were  published  in  the  Baptist  Record  for  May, 
1847.  The  first  form  only  of  the  Annual  Report,  (owing 
to  the  absence  of  the  Corresponding  Secretary,)  was 
printed.  The  Addresses  appear  there  also,  though  the 
Report  was  not  published. 

The  officers  for  the  new  year  were  Rev.  J.  H.  KENNARD, 
President;  Rev.  THOMAS  H.  MALCOM,  Corresponding 
Secretary;  Rev.  B.  R.  LOXLEY,  Depository  Agent  and 
Assistant  Treasurer  ;  C.  A.  WILSON,  Recording  Secretary  ; 
and  W.  W.  KEEN,  Treasurer.  The  Board  of  Managers 
was  but  slightly  changed. 


ANNUAL   REPORT.  189 


53.  Prospects. 

This  Anniversary  was  one  of  great  interest.  "  With  an 
increasing  band  of  Colporteurs,  increasing  sympathy,  and 
enlarged  donations  on  the  part  of  the  churches,  and  with 
many  tokens  of  the  Divine  blessing,  another  year  was  com- 
menced with  feelings  of  gratitude,  for  the  past  and  of  hope 
for  the  future." 


54.  Twenty-Fourth  Annual  Meeting,  1848. 

The  Annual  Meeting  of  1848,  (called  the  Ninth,)  was 
held  with  the  Tenth  Baptist  Church,  Philadelphia,  Wednes- 
day, April  26th,  the  President,  J.  II.  Kennard,  in  the 
Chair. 

The  Treasurer's  Report  showed  a  falling  off  in  the 
receipts  of  over  $3,000,  being  $20,92?  22;  of  which 
$13,360,  were  from  book  sales.  New  Life  Members,  29, 
and  1  Life  Manager. 


55.  Annual  Report. 

The  Annual  Report  of  the  Board  was  read  by  the  Cor- 
responding Secretary,  THOMAS  S.  MALCOM.  It  showed  an 
increase  in  the  number  of  books  put  in  circulation,  it  being 
60,000 ;  or  10,000  more  than  any  preceding  year.  Among 
the  new  publications  were,  Baptisms  of  the  New  Testament, 
Morning  Thoughts,  Memoir  of  Micajeh  E.  Way,  Reming- 
ton's Reasons  for  becoming  a  Baptist,  and  The  Psalmist 
with  Supplement.  New  editions  were  issued  of  Carson, 


190  AMERICAN    BAPTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 

Howell,  Fuller,  Banyan's  Pilgrim,  Baptist  Manual,  &c. 
A  new  Tract  was  published,  Judson's  Letters  to  Females 
on  Costly  and  Ornamental  Attire.  New  stereotype  plates 
added,  1,400  pages.  Of  the  Baptist  Almanac,  8,000  copies 
were  printed. 

In  ten  States,  18  Colporteurs  have  been  employed  by 
the  Society,  and  their  labors  have  been  signally  blessed. 
Three  were  Germans,  one  in  New  York,  one  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  one  in  Ohio. 

Small  gratuitous  libraries  had  been  sent  to  12  Ministers 
and  10  Sunday-schools.  The  grants  of  books  and  tracts 
amount  to  about  $500.  The  sum  of  $100  had  been  remitted 
to  Bro.  Oncken}  of  Hamburgh,  to  publish  tracts  in  Hun- 
gary. Grants  of  books  and  tracts  have  been  made  for 
Canada,  Indian  Territory,  Oregon,  West  Indies,  France, 
Africa,  Assam,  Burmah,  and  China. 

Of  the  $10,000  Fund,  $8,439  had  been  pledged.  The 
remainder  must  be  made  up  by  the  1st  of  July  of  the 
current  year,  or  the  subscriptions  are  not  binding. 

The  Building  Fund  amounted  to  $1,550  60.  Stock, 
$7,394.  Stereotype  plates,  $8,675.  Total,  $16,070.  The 
library  is  steadily  increasing.  Number  of  publications 
238,  of  which  56  are  bound  volumes. 


56.  Resolutions. 

On  motion  of  Rev.  F.  Wilson,  of  Baltimore,  sustained  by 
an  address, 

"  Besolved,  That  the  publications  of  this  Society  furnish 
a  powerful  auxiliary  to  the  minister  of  the  Cross,  in  pro- 
moting not  only  the  conversion  of  sinners,  but  the  progress 
of  Divine  truth,  and  of  a  manly,  intelligent,  and  scriptural 
piety  in  our  own  churches  ;  and  therefore  claim  the  most 


PENGILLY    IN    FREW3H.  191 

•nergetic  personal  effort  of  every  Baptist,  for  more  exten- 
sive circulation." 

On  motion  of  Rev.  J.  B.  Olcott,  of  Parma,  N.  Y.,  sus- 
tained by  an  address, 

"  Resolved,  That  in  view  of  the  present  state  of  the 
world,  and  oar  inability  to  provide  for  its  spiritual  wants 
by  the  ordinary  labors  of  the  ministry,  we  see  the  sternest 
•tiiiUMJIj  of  immediate  measures  for  the  extensive  empl/jy- 
meni  of  the  press,  and  the  Colporteur  system,  for  impart- 
ing the  knowledge  of  salvation  to  our  fellow  men." 

The  sum  of  $8000  having  been  conditionally  pledged  to 
carry  oat  the  $10,000  Plan,  it  was,  on  motion  of  T.  Watt- 
son, 

"  Rosolved,  That  vigorous  efforts  should  be  made  to  ob- 
tain the  balance,  that  the  full  amount  may  be  raised  by  the 
first  of  July." 

In  view  of  the  necessary  destitution  of  many  Baptist 
ministers  in  the  West,  it  was  moved  by  Rev.  J.  E.  Welch, 


"  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  duty  and  the  privilege  of  the 
American  Baptist  Publication  Society  and  its  friends,  to 
assist  them  in  procuring  such  books  as  will  enable  them  to 
present  the  truths  of  the  Grospel  more  fully  and  successful  ]y 
to  the  people.  " 


S7.  Pengilly  in  French, 

A  collection  was  then  taken.  Several  Libraries  for 
poor  ministers  were  pledged.  In  answer  to  an  appeal  of 
-•responding  Secretary  for  funds  to  publish  "  Pen- 
gilly"  and  other  works  in  French,  not  only  for  circulation 
in  France,  but  by  the  Grand  Ligne  Mission  in  Canada,  a 
liberal  amount  was  subscribed  for  these  objects. 


192  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 

An  abstract  of  the   addresses  is  found  in  the  Baptist 
Record  for  May,  1848. 

The  officers  of  the  last  year  were  re-elected. 


58.  Twenty-Fifth  Annual  Meeting. 

The  Annual  Meeting  of  1849  was  held  with  the  First 
Baptist  Church,  Philadelphia,  Wednesday,  April  25th: 
the  President,  J.  H.  Kennard,  in  the  chair. 

The  Treasurer's  Report  showed  an  increase  of  near  $5000 
in  the  income  of  the  Society.  Receipts  $25,416,38. 
Forty-two  Life  Members  and  four  Life  Managers  had 
been  added. 


59.   Annual  Report  of  the  Board. 

The  Annual  Report  of  the  Board  was  read  by  the  Cor- 
responding Secretary,  T.  S.  MALCOM.  It  showed  that 
more  than  60  volumes  had  been  put  in  circulation  during 
the  year.  Fifteen  new  publications  were  issued  ;  1  in  Ger- 
man, 4  in  French,  and  10  in  English.  In  German,  Pen- 
gilly's  "Scripture  Guide,"  in  French,  Pengilly,  Wilson's 
Manual,  Remington's  Reasons,  and  "  Errors  of  the 
Church  of  Rome  ;"  in  English,  "  Closing  Scenes,"  "  The 
Baptist  Harp,"  a  new  collection  of  Hymns  for  the  closet, 
the  family,  social  meetings,  and  revivals,  &o.,  &c.  New 
editions  of  Fuller's  works,  "Howell  on  Communion,"  "Pil- 
grim's Progress,"  "The  Psalmist,"  &c.  Also  the  Baptist 
Almanac  for  1849.  Stereotype  plates  added,  1300  pages. 
Value  of  stock  in  Books,  &c.,  $9,741  ;  in  stereotype  plates, 
$8,977.  Total,  $18,719. 


RESOLUTIONS.  193 

Of  18  Colporteurs  laboring  in  10  States,  5  are  German. 

Grants  of  11  Ministers'  Libraries  and  12  Sunday-school 
Libraries  were  bestowed  during  the  year,  making  103 
within  five  years.  Grants  of  books  and  tracts  were  made 
to  Canada,  France,  Africa,  China,  Burmah,  West  Indies, 
Indian  Territory,  Oregon,  and  California.  Also,  $100  to 
brother  Oucken  for  Tracts  in  Germany. 

The  Ten  Thousand  Dollar  Subscription  was  completed  dur- 
ing the  year.  As  fast  as  paid  in,  the  interest  was  appropri- 
ated in  gratuities.  When  fully  paid,  the  sum  of  $600 
annually  will  be  at  the  disposal  of  the  Board  for  gratuitous 
distributions. 

The  Building  Fund  is  yet  but  $1.659,01,  the  interest  of 
which  in  part  defrays  the  rent.  The  Library  contains  1032 
volumes.  The  catalogue  of  the  Society  embraces  260  pub- 
lications, of  which  68  are  bound  volumes.  Of  the  Tracts, 
]  15  are  English,  5  German,  3  French,  besides  9  Children's 
Tracts  in  18mo. 

The  Report  was  adopted,  and  referred  to  the  Board  for 
publication  ;  but,  owing  to  the  manifold  engagements  of 
the  Corresponding  Secretary,  was  never  published,  not 
even  in  the  Quarterly  Record.  The  above  facts  are  taken 
mainly  from  the  Baptist  Almanac.  The  account  of  the 
proceedings  of  the  Annual  Meetings  which  follow,  is  taken 
from  a  fragment  of  the  first  form  printed,  but  never  pub- 
lished. 


60.  Resolutions. 

Rev.  S.  Remington,  of  New  York,  offered  the  following 
resolution,  which  was  sustained  by  an  interesting  address, 
and  passed. 

"As  the  diffusion  of  Divine  Knowledge  is  the  grand 
17 


194  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

instrumentality  ordained  by  God,  by  which  to  convert  sin- 
ners to  himself,  therefore, 

"Resolved,  That  the  American  Baptist  Publication  So- 
ciety has  high  claims  upon  the  sympathy,  and  ought  to  share 
largely  in  the  vigorous  support  of  the  denomination." 

On  motion  of  Rev.  Thomas  Smith,  of  Kentucky,  sus- 
tained by  an  address, 

"Resolved,  That  the  publications  of  this  Society  present 
an  important  auxiliary  to  the  ministry  of  our  denomina- 
tion." 

The  following  preamble  and  resolutions,  offered  by  T. 
Wattson,  Esq.,  discloses  an  important  fact  in  the  history 
of  the  Society : 

"  Whereas,  the  building  now  occupied  by  the  Society 
must  be  given  up  before  the  next  Anniversary,  therefore 

"  JResolved,  That  the  permanent  location  of  the  Deposi- 
tory is  a  matter  of  increasing  importance  to  the  successful 
prosecution  of  the  operations  of  the  Society. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  Board  of  Managers  be  requested  to 
procure  a  suitable  place,  and  to  take  measures  to  increase 
the  Building  Fund  now  belonging  to  the  Society." 

These  resolutions  were  sustained  by  an  address  from  the 
mover,  and  unanimously  passed  ;  after  which  a  collection 
was  taken  for  the  object. 

The  Officers  of  the  preceding  year  were  re-elected. 


61.  Twenty-Sixth  Annual  Meeting— 1850. 

The  Annual  Meeting  of  1850,  (the  Twenty-Sixth  from 
the  beginning,  and  the  Tenth  from  the  re-organiza- 
tion in  1840  under  the  present  name,)  was  held  with  the 
Eleventh  Baptist  Church,  Philadelphia,  on  Wednesday, 
May  1st ;  the  President,  J.  II.  Kennard,  in  the  chair. 


ANNUAL  REPORT  UF  THE  BOARD.          195 

The  services  of  a  phonographic  reporter  were,  by  a  vote 
of  the  Society,  secured  for  the  evening  addresses. 

The  Treasurer's  Report,  though  nominally  less,  showed 
a  real  gain  in  the  amount  received  for  the  appropriate  pur- 
poses of  the  Society,  over  any  former  year.  This  was 
$23,925  85.  For  other  societies,  $896  84;  making  a 
total  of  $24,822  69.  Stock  in  books,  &c.,  $10,561  81. 
Stereotype  plates,  11,802  pages,  wood-cuts,  &c.,  not 
including  copyrights,  $9,647  54.  Total,  $20,215  35. 
Being  an  increase  of  $1,496  13,  notwithstanding  a  recent 
reduction  of  twenty  per  cent,  in  the  price  of  our  books. 
Thirty  Life  Members  and  Twelve  Life  Managers  have  been 
added.  Library,  1100  vols. 


62.  Annual  Report  of  the  Board. 

The  Annual  Report  of  the  Board  was  read  by  the  Cor- 
responding Secretary,  THOMAS  S.  MALCOM.  It  was  marked 
by  a  striking  increase  in  the  work  of  publication — eighteen 
new  publications  having  been  printed  or  stereotyped  in 
the  course  of  the  year.  These  were  The  Baptist  Harp, 
(large  edition)  ;  Francis  Egerton  ;  Frey's  Messiahship  of 
Jesus,  and  his  Scripture  Types  ;  Baxter's  Call,  and  his 
Saints'  Rest ;  Alleine's  Alarm  ;  Pike's  Guide  to  Young 
Disciples  ;  Effie  Maurice  ;  John  Frink  ;  James  and  George  ; 
A  Pedobaptist  Church  no  Home  for  a  Baptist ;  Scriptur- 
al and  Historical  Arguments  for  Infant  Baptism  Examined; 
Covenant  of  Circumcision  ;  New  Testament  and  Historical 
Arguments  for  Infant  Baptism  Examined,  by  J.Torry  Smith. 
Tracts — In  German,  Fuller's-  Great  Question  Answered  ; 
The  Bible  and  the  Sinner  ;  What  it  is  to  Believe  in  Christ ; 
in  English — A  Solemn  Question  to  One  who  has  a  Hope 
in  Jesus.  The  new  publications  average  110  pp.,  and 


196  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

embrace  in  all  3,059  pages  added  to  our  Catalogue.  New- 
editions  of  Carson,  Howell  on  the  Deaconship,  Baptist 
Manual,  Holy  War,  Reign  of  Grace,  The  Psalmist,  Pen- 
gilly,  Remington,  &c.,  were  issued,  besides  new  editions 
of  forty-five  Tracts. 

Twenty- one  Colporteur  Missionaries  were  employed  in 
11  States  and  Territories,  seven  of  whom  were  Germans. 
The  salaries  of  those  paid,  have  been  raised  from  $100  to 
$150, — an  important  but  necessary  step.  Their  labors 
have  been  greatly  blessed.  Converts  have  been  multiplied, 
and  many  buried  with  Christ  in  Baptism. 

Libraries,  of  the  average  value  of  $10,  have  been  given 
to  twenty-three  ministers  and  sixteen  Sunday-schools ; 
making  one  hundred  and  forty  in  six  years.  In  the  Foreign 
Field  grants  have  been  made  to  China,  Burmah,  Assam, 
Africa,  France,  Germany,  Jamaica,  Hayti,  and  Canada, 
besides  a  remittance  in  money  to  France  to  aid  in  estab- 
lishing Sabbath-schools. 

The  $10,000  Fund  is  nearly  all  paid  in.  On  the  1st  of 
March,  1849,  the  sum  of  $5000  commenced  bearing  interest, 
and  on  the  1st  of  March  1850,  $4,300  more;  making  a 
total  of  $9,300  now  bearing  interest,  from  which  appropri- 
ations are  being  made  to  California  and  other  destitute 
sections  of  our  own  country. 

APPOINTMENT   OF   AN   EDITOR. 

The  appointment  of  an  Editor,  Rev.  J.  NEWTON  BROWN, 
of  Lexington,  Ya.,  and  his  arrival,  Oct.  23,  1849,  to  enter 
upon  his  duties,  has  greatly  relieved  the  Corresponding 
Secretary,  and  begun  a  new  era  in  the  style  of  issue,  as  well 
as  the  amount.  Bro.  Brown  is  best  known  as  the  Editor 
of  the  "  Encyclopedia  of  Religious  Knowledge." 

IMPROVEMENT   IN   BOOKS. 

Though  the  price  of  our  books  has  been  reduced  twenty 


HISTORICAL   PAPER.  197 

per  cent.,  the  quality  of  paper  and  typographical  appearance 
are  improved.     This  is  also  the  case  with  our  Tracts. 

REMOVAL   OF  DEPOSITORY. 

But  the  most  recent  and  important  measure  of  the  year 
has  been  the  removal  of  the  Depository  from  the  small 
hired  building,  No.  31  North  Sixth  Street,  occupied  for  six 
years  past,  to  the  spacious  and  beautiful  edifice  recently 
secured  by  the  Society,  and  prepared  for  use,  at  118  Arch 
Street. 

$25,000   BUILDING   FUND. 

A  Building  Fund  of  $25,000  has  been  commenced  to  pay 
for  the  building  and  lot  now  occupied,  and  enable  the 
Society  to  erect  additional  buildings  upon  the  rear  of  the 
lot. 


63.  Failure  of  Negotiation. 

The  negotiation  long  pending  this  year  to  effect  a  merg- 
ing of  the  New  England  Sabbath  School  Union  with  the 
American  Baptist  Publication  Society,  was  unsuccessful, 
and  was  dropped  late  in  the  Spring. 


64.  Historical  Paper. 

After  the  Annual  Report  had  been  adopted  and  referred 
to  the  Board,  as  usual,  for  publication,  "  an  interesting 
paper  was  read  by  Bro.  J.  Newton  Brown,  sketching  the 
history  of  the  Society,  portraying  its  present  position,  and 
directing  attention  to  the  work  to  be  accomplished." 

n* 


198  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 


65.  Resolutions. 

On  motion  of  Rev.  K.  Babcock,  D.  D.,  sustained  by  an 
animated  address, 

"Resolved,  That  the  past  history,  the  present  position, 
and  inviting  facilities  for  greatly  increased  effort  by  this 
Society,  are  of  the  most  encouraging  character." 

On  motion  of  Rev.  G.  W.  Samson,  of  Washington,  D.  C., 
sustained  by  an  address  of  great  interest,  it  was 

"  Resolved,  That  in  its  very  name,  the  American  Baptist 
Publication  Society  gives  the  promise  and  the  pledge,  that 
it  is  to  be  a  chosen  instrument  of  God  in  the  world's  con- 
version to  Christ." 

On  motion  of  Rev.  Howard  Malcom,  D.D.,  sustained  by 
an  address  of  pointed  practical  character,  it  was 

"  Resolved,  That  in  whatever  light  we  survey  our  country, 
whether  in  reference  to  the  vast  influx  of  foreigners,  the 
intense  public  excitement  on  various  national  questions, 
the  alarming  multiplication  of  injurious  books,  or  even  the 
mere  increase  of  our  territory  and  population,  we  see  the 
strongest  reasons  for  increased  zeal  in  behalf  of  this  Society." 

In  closing  his  Address  on  the  third  Resolution,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Malcora  employed  the  following  apt  and  character- 
istic illustration  of  the  feeble  workings  of  the  Society  at 
present,  as  compared  with  the  urgency  of  the  need,  and  the 
almost  unlimited  power  which  it  might  exert,  if  properly 
supplied  with  capital,  and  the  personal  co-operation  of  the 
entire  Baptist  community. 

"  Sometimes  I  stand  across  the  street  and  look  at  the 
whole  building.  I  think  of  the  Board,  the  Secretaries,  the 
Depository,  and  all  the  arrangements.  It  puts  me  in  mind 
of  a  noble  engine  in  the  midst  of  a  great  fire.  The  flames 
rage,  and  yet  it  does  very  little.  Now  and  then,  a  little 
stream  flows,  and  then  it  stops.  What's  the  matter  ? 


RESOLUTIONS.  190 

Alas  I  there  is  a  deficiency  of  water.  '  Ho !  there — buckets  I 
buckets  I  fill  her  up.' — There,  now  she  plays.  Hope 
brightens.  The  flames  are  checked ! — Come,  brethren,  the 
.  Publication  Society  is  our  engine.  Supply  her  well,  and 
she  will  prove  herself.  She  can  only  throw  off  what  you 
supply. 

"Now,  sir,  it  seems  to  me  that  of  all  the  errors  that  I 
know  of  among  the  Baptists,  I  know  of  none  more  remark- 
able than  the  neglect  of  this  Society 

If  they  have  not  heard  of  the  Society,  whose  fault  is 
that  ?  The  Society's  fault,  to  a  very  considerable  extent ; 
for  if  you  want  to  be  heard,  you  must  make  yourself  heard. 
Who  is  going  to  blow  the  trumpet  for  others  ?  Every  man 
has  as  much  as  he  can  do  for  himself,  and  this  Society  must 
come  out,  and  stand  in  high  places,  and  call  attention,  and 
insist  upon  a  presentation  of  its  noble,  glorious,  godlike 
claims." 

NEW   DEPOSITORY   AND   BUILDING   FUND. 

The  following  resolutions  were  offered  by  T.  Wattson, 
Esq.,  and  seconded  by  W.  W.  Keen,  (each  with  a  subscrip- 
tion of  $500  to  the  Building  Fund,)  and  unanimously 
adopted : 

"  Resolved,  That  we  approve  the  arrangement  of  the 
Board  of  Managers  in  reference  to  a  new  Depository  ;  re- 
garding the  new  location,  and  the  enlarged  facilities  for  busi- 
ness, as  an  important  era  in  the  history  of  the  Society. 

"  Resolved,  That  we  approve  the  plan  of  raising  $25,000 
as  a  Building  Fund  for  the  Society." 

ANNUAL  DAY   OF  PRAYER  FOR  THE    SOCIETY. 

On  motion  of  Rev.  Thomas  S.  Malcom,  seconded  by 
Rev.  Heman  Lincoln, 

"  Resolved,  That  we  earnestly  request  that  prayer  may 
be  especially  offered  in  behalf  of  the  Society  on  the  second 


200  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 

Sunday  in  June,  and  that  simultaneous  collections  be  made 
on  that  day  for  the  Building  Fund." 

A  liberal  subscription  was  given  to  the  Building  Fund. 


66.  Editorial  Secretary. 

In  addition  to  the  former  officers,  re-elected,  J.  NEWTON 
BROWN  was  chosen  to  the  office  of  Editorial  Secretary. 

The  following  notice,  in  reference  to  his  first  appointment, 
appeared  in  the  Baptist  Record  for  November,  1849. 

"  Rev.  J.  NEWTON  BROWN,  the  Editor  of  the  '  Encyclo- 
pedia of  Religious  Knowledge,'  was  recently  elected  by  the 
Board  of  Managers,  '  Associate  Secretary  and  Editor.' 
The  appointment  has  been  accepted,  and  as  our  sheet  goes 
to  press,  it  gives  us  great  pleasure  to  welcome  a  fellow- 
laborer  so  well  adapted  to  the  duties  of  the  station." 


67.  Twenty-Seventh  Annual  Meeting — 1851. 

The  Annual  Meeting  of  1851,  was  held  with  the  Fifth 
Baptist  Church,  Sansom  St.,  Philadelphia,  May  7th,  the 
President,  J.  H.  Kennard,  in  the  chair. 

The  Treasurer's  Report  was  highly  favorable — far  be- 
yond any  former  year.  Receipts,  $40,597.71  ;  of  which 
$18,098  were  from  book  sales,  $5,803  from  Building  Fund, 
&c.  New  Life  Members,  26 ;  Life  Managers,  4.  The 
business  operations  paid  all  the  expenses  of  stereotyping, 
printing,  binding,  salaries  of  officers,  &c. 


68.  Annual  Report  of  the  Board.     New  Publications. 

During  the  year,  as  appeared  by  the  Annual  Report  of 
the  Board,  read  by  the  Secretaries,  J.  NEWTON  BROWN 


TEN  THOUSAND  DOLLAR  FUND          201 

and  THOMAS  S.  MALCOM,  16  new  publications  were  stereo- 
typed or  printed. — Curtis  on  Communion ;  Bunyan's 
Awakening,  Inviting,  and  Devotional  Works;  Frey's 
Messiahship  of  Jesus;  Scripture  Series  for  Sabbath 
Schools,  No.  I ;  Scripture  Series  for  S.  S.,  No.  II ;  Law's 
Call  to  Christians  ;  Pengilly's  Seven  Letters  to  the  Society 
of  Friends  ;  A  Pedobaptist  Church  no  Home  for  a  Bap- 
tist ;  The  Serpent  Uncoiled  ;  Aids  to  Devotion  ;  Reming- 
ton's Reasons ;  Power  of  the  Cross ;  The  Primitive 
Churchman,  and  Primitive  Rule  of  Giving  for  Benevolent 
Purposes  ;  Daily  Lessons  from  all  Creatures ;  Prayer  for 
Ministers  of  the  Gospel;  Remember;  and  I  am  Resolved. 
The  last  four  are  Tracts.  These  new  publications  embrace 
2,708  pages,  (of  which  1,894  are  12  mo.)  and  average  169 
pages,  equal  to  4,400  pages  18  mo.  Also,  It, 250  copies 
of  the  Baptist  Almanac  for  1851,  and  20,000  copies  of 
the  Baptist  Record  were  issued, 

New  editions  were  printed  of  Fuller's  Works  ;  The 
Psalmist ;  The  Harp,  &c.  Copies  of  volumes  printed, 
39,000;  of  Tracts,  145,000;  total  184,500.  The  new 
stereotype  plates,  1,852  pages.  Yalue  of  books,  &c.,  on 
hand,  $12,888 ;  of  stereotype  plates,  (13,654  pages,) 
$11,100 ;  total  $23,988. 

COLPORTEUR   MISSIONARIES. 

The  Society  employed  during  the  year  2t  Colporteur 
Missionaries,  in  seven  States,  besides  Canada  and  Oregon. 
They  have  labored  amongst  the  Germans,  Dutch,  Irish, 
and  French ;  also,  among  seamen  and  others.  Many 
souls  have  been  led  to  the  Saviour.  The  salaries  of  Col- 
porteurs are  $150  per  annum. 

FUND  OF  $10,000. 

The  amount  received  on  the  $10,000  Gratuity  Fund, 
after  deducting  expenses,  is  now  $9,806.83.  Grants  have 


202  AMERICAN    BAPTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 

been  made  to  the  destitute  in  seventeen  States,  besides 
grants  to  Seamen  and  to  Missionary  Stations.  In  the 
foreign  field,  they  have  been  sent  to  Assam,  Burmah, 
China,  Greece,  France,  South  America,  Hayti,  Jamaica, 
&c.,  besides  donations  of  money  for  Sunday-schools  in 
France,  and  to  print  denominational  tracts  in  Greece. 
Appeals  have  come  to  us  to  prepare  books  in  the  Spanish 
language  for  circulation  in  New  Mexico,  Mexico,  and 
South  America. 

BUILDING   FUND. 

The  new  building  in  Arch  Street  has  greatly  facilitated 
the  operations  of  the  Society.  The  amount  secured  on 
the  Building  Fund  of  $25,000,  (proposed  at  the  session 
of  the  Philadelphia  Association  in  October,  1849,  is 
$11,000,  in  cash  and  subscriptions,  of  which  $2,000  is 
signed  with  the  condition  that  $15,000  must  first  be  raised. 
The  entire  sum  is  needed  for  paying  the  cost  of  the  edifice, 
and  for  additional  building  purposes,  besides  printing  and 
binding. 

PERMANENT   CHARTER. 

The  Charter  of  the  Society  obtained  in  1840-41,  was 
limited  to  ten  years.  It  has  this  year  been  extended  by 
the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania,  and  made  perpetual  by 
an  Act  passed  April  14,  1841. 


69.  Proceedings  and  Resolutions. 

The  Annual  Report  was  accepted,  and  referred  to  the 
Board,  as  usual,  for  publication.  It  appeared  only  as 
an  Abstract,  with  the  Addresses,  in  the  Baptist  Record  for 
May. 


PROCEEDINGS  AND  RESOLUTIONS.          203 

Some  alterations  were  made  in  the  Constitution  to  bring 
it  into  entire  conformity  with  the  language  of  the  Charter. 

Addresses  were  made  by  Rev.  T.  Armitage,  of  New 
York ;  Rev.  D.  Shephardson,  of  Ohio  ;  and  Rev.  A. 
Waring,  of  Hayti,  in  connection  with  the  following  reso- 
lutions, which  were  unanimously  adopted  : 

"  Eesolved,  That  of  all  the  modern  agencies  which  the 
King  of  Zion  has  called  into  existence,  for  the  settlement 
of  controversy  between  his  Glorious  Truth  and  the  tradi- 
tions of  men,  there  hath  not  arisen  a  greater  than  the 
Printing  Press.  And  that  in  proportion  as  this  Society 
shall  ply  her  presses,  and  circulate  her  publications,  she 
is  destined,  through  that  agency,  to  act  a  noble  part  in  the 
total  overthrow  of  Tradition,  and  in  the  permanent  vindi- 
cation, of  the  Truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus." 

"  Eesolved,  That  the  present  extent,  rapid  growth, 
future  prospects,  and  spiritual  necessities  of  the  Great 
West,  plead  eloquently  with  the  friends  of  Truth  and 
Humanity  for  an  enlargement  of  the  operations  of  this 
Society. 

"  Whereas  the  publications  of  this  Society  in  the  French 
language,  have  been  of  great  use  in  Papal  countries,  there- 
fore, 

"  Eesolved,  That  we  recommend  enlarged  efforts  in  the 
circulation  of  the  Society's  publications  in  Foreign  lan- 
guages." 

The  resolution  of  the  preceding  year,  recommending  and 
requesting  that  special  prayer  be  offered,  and  a  collection 
taken  up  for  the  Society,  on  the  second  Sabbath  in  June, 
in  all  the  churches,  was  renewed  this  year,  on  motion  of 
Rev.  J.  L.  Burrows,  and  unanimously  passed. 

Also,  a  resolution,  recommending  to  the  Board  of 
Managers  to  employ  immediately  such  measures  as  they 
think  proper,  to  bring  the  claims  of  the  Society  fully  before 


204  AMERICAN  BAPTIST  PUBLICATION  SOCIETY. 

the  denomination,  was  offered  by  Rev.  M.  G.  Clarke,  and 


70.  Increase  of  Stock. 

The  stock  of  the  Society,  it  appears,  was  increased  this 
year  of  prosperity,  $2,148.69,  besides  the  amount  received 
on  Building  Fund ;  making  the  capital  of  the  Society,  after 
making  provision  for  all  the  funds,  including  the  Ten  Thou- 
sand Dollar  Fund,  $38,060.88,  exclusive  of  copyrights,  and 
of  the  Library,  which  contains  about  1,700  volumes. 


71.  Annual  Report  of  1852. 

It  was  originally  designed  that  the  Historical  Document, 
when  brought  up  to  this  point,  should  be  closed  by  printing 
in  full  the  Annual  Report  for  1852 — a  Report  care- 
fully prepared,  and  containing  a  larger  amount  of  rich  ma- 
terial, historically  considered,  than  any  previous  year  of  the 
Society's  labors.  We  think  this  will  appear  from  the  brief 
abstract  of  the  Report  we  now  give,  and  sincerely  hope, 
(for  the  sake  of  Bunyan's  Practical  Works  especially,)  that 
the  original  purpose  may  not  be  entirely  abandoned. 


72.  Twenty-Eighth  Annual  Meeting — 1852. 

The  Annual  Meeting  of  1852,  (the  Twenty -Eighth  An- 
niversary from  the  origin  of  the  Society,  though,  at  the 
time,  called  the  Thirteenth,)  was  held  with  the  First  Bap- 
tist Church,  Philadelphia,  Wednesday,  May  5th ;  the  Pre- 
sident, Rev.  J.  H.  Kennard,  in  the  Chair. 


ANNUAL  REPORT   OP   THE   BOARD.  205 

The  Treasurer's  Report  was  read  by  Rev.  B.  R.  Loxley, 
Assistant  Treasurer.  Receipts  of  the  year,  $42,358.31; 
of  which  $20,972  were  from  book  sales,  and  $5,456,  for 
Building  Fund.  The  Society  was  free  from  debt,  the  busi- 
ness operations  having  paid  all  the  expenses. 


73.  Annual  Report  of  the  Board. 

The  Annual   Report  of  the   Board  was   read  by  the 
Secretaries. 

NEW   PUBLICATIONS — BUNYAN'S  PRACTICAL   WORKS. 

Forty-three  new  publications,  (of  which  37  are  bound 
volumes,)  were  issued  during  the  year.  They  embrace  the 
uniform  edition  of  Bunyan's  Practical  Works;  the  Sinner's 
Progress;  Heavenly  Footman;  Barren  Fig  Tree;  and 
cheap  edition  of  Pilgrim's  Progress.  Positive  Law  ;  Way 
to  Christ  and  Walk  in  Christ,  by  Prof.  Anderson  ;  Voyage 
of  the  Ship  Christian  ;  Daily  Food  for  Christians  ;  Pike's 
Religion  and  Eternal  Life  ;  Advice  to  Young  Christians  ; 
Minutes  of  the  Philadelphia  Association  for  the  first  Hun- 
dred Years  ;  Infant  Baptism  a  P.art  and  Pillar  of  Popery, 
with  a  new  Chapter,  by  Dr.  Ide ;  Heywood's  Heart  Trea- 
sure; Hall's  Help  to  Zion's  Travellers;  Manual  for  Sunday- 
school  Celebrations ;  Baptist  Catechism  ;  Do.  with  Scrip- 
ture References ;  Henry  Curran  ;  Bereaved  Mothers  ; 
Light  for  the  Young,  or  Letters  of  Miss  Jewsbury ;  Do. 
elegant  edition ;  Mrs.  Shuck's  Scenes  in  China,  with  a  new 
Chapter  by  the  Editor ;  Do.  Illuminated  edition  ;  Buds  of 
Paradise  ;  Bud  of  Texas  ;  Bud  of  the  Merrimack  ;  Bud  of 
the  Delaware  ;  The  S.  S.  Forget-me-Not ;  Do.  illuminated  ; 
Memoir  of  Joseph  Wistar ;  The  Frazer  Family ;  Inde- 
pendence Day  ;  Lost  Opportunities  ;  Jessie  Carey  ;  The 
18 


206  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 

Sunday-school  Teacher ;  One  Honest  Effort ;  and  the  Ten 
Commandments. 

These  new  publications  embrace  7514  pages,  nearly  double 
the  number  of  last  year,  and  equal  to  11,028  pages,  18mo. 
All  but  8  were  stereotyped.  (Number  of  new  stereotype 
plates,  5,000  ;  making  the  number  six  times  what  it  was 
three  years  ago,  besides  102  engravings.)  Also  there  were 
issued  20,000  copies  of  the  Baptist  Almanac,  and  32,400 
copies  of  the  Record.  The  whole  number  of  publications 
on  the  Society's  Catalogue  is  355. 

New  editions  were  printed  of  Law's  Call ;  Aids  to  Devo- 
tion ;  Pengilly's  Scripture  Guide  ;  Remington's  Reasons ; 
Help  to  Children  ;  No  Home  ;  &c.,  &c. 

Value  of  stock  in  books,  &c.,  16,147.06;  in  stereotype 
plates,  (18,714  pages,)  $14,486.78.  Total,  $30,634.24. 
Total  value  of  Society's  property,  including  building,  &c., 
$55,953.54. 

COLPORTEUR   MISSIONARIES. 

Thirty-four  Colporteur  Missionaries  were  employed  in 
eleven  States  and  in  Oregon,  six  of  them  Germans,  several, 
college  students.  They  labored  among  Germans,  Dutch, 
French  and  Irish,  besides  the  seamen.  One  had  visited 
within  30  months  6,438  families,  5,267  vessels,  and  1,100 
canal  boats,  sold  4,656  books,  and  distributed  47,282 
tracts,  containing  365,552  pages,  besides  selling  or  giving 
away  308  Bibles  and  Testaments,  and  reporting  29  hopeful 
conversions. 

Two  liberal  brethren  have  set  apart  this  year  $2,500 
each,  the  interest  of  which  is  designed  to  support  perpetu- 
ally one  Colporteur  Missionary  forever.  Thirty-seven  Life 
Members  and  four  Life  Managers  have  been  added  by  the 
payment  of  the  usual  suras. 


ADDRESSES  AND    RESOLUTIONS.  207 

GRANTS. 

Grants  have  been  made  on  the  $10,000  Fund  to  the  full 
amount  of  the  interest,  $600,  sending  joy  to  many  hearts. 
Thirty-three  Libraries,  to  Ministers  and  Sunday-schools, 
have  been  sent  out,  making  192  within  eight  years.  In  the 
foreign  field  grants  have  been  made  to  China,  Burmah, 
Siam,  France,  Ilayti,  &c.,  especially  to  the  stations  of  the 
American  Baptist  Missionary  Union,  the  Southern  Baptist 
Convention,  the  Free  Mission  Society,  the  American  Indian 
Mission  Association,  and  the  Grand  Ligne  Mission. 

BUILDING  FUND. 

The  amount  secured  for  the  Building  Fund  in  cash  and 
subscription  is  $17,633,  of  which  $13,2T2  has  been  paid. 
The  plan  of  securing  from  1000  ladies  $10  each,  has  met 
with  favor,  and  many  names  have  been  enrolled.  Still 
about  $8000  are  lacking  to  complete  the  sum  required  and 
needed. 


74.  Addresses  and  Resolutions. 

Addresses  were  made  by  the  Rev.  H.  Lincoln,  M.  M. 
Dean,  A.  D.  Gillette,  and  M.  G.  Clarke,  in  connection 
with  the  following  resolutions,  which  were  all  unanimously 
passed : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  activity  displayed  the  past  year  in 
the  Publishing  Department  of  this  Society,  and  especially 
in  the  issue  of  Sunday-school  Literature ;  the  excellence 
of  the  works  issued,  and  the  extensive  good  effected  by 
their  circulation,  call  for  fervent  gratitude  to  God,  and 
sympathy  from  the  churches  ;  and  afford  a  cheering  pledge 
of  energy  and  success  in  the  future." 

"  Resolved,  That  we  recognize  the  good  providence  of 


208          AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

God,  in  the  prosperity  attending  upon  the  Colporteur 
operations  of  this  Society,  the  past  year ;  and  commend 
to  the  Board  the  importance  of  this  class  of  evangelical 
labors,  as  it  stands  connected  with  the  moral  wants  of  our 
nation." 

"  That  one  of  the  speedy,  simple,  and  efficient  modes  of 
Ministerial  Education  is  furnished  by  the  plan  of  this  So- 
ciety, in  supplying  the  numerous  ministers  who  thirst  for 
knowledge,  but  have  only  a  few  books,  with  the  choice 
volumes  of  Fuller,  Bunyan,  and  others  of  our  eminent 
writers.  Therefore 

"  Resolved,  That  at  least  $2,000  should  be  secured  the 
present  year,  for  the  purpose  of  furnishing  200  libraries, 
of  the  average  value  of  $10  each,  for  such  Ministers." 

SECOND    SUNDAY  IN   JUNE. 

"  Whereas,  for  the  past  two  years,  the  second  Sunday 
in  June  has  been  so  widely  observed  as  a  season  of  special 
prayer  for  the  Society,  therefore,  Resolved,  That  in  view 
of  the  blessings  which  God  has  bestowed  in  answer  to 
prayer,  we  solicit  a  renewed  remembrance  of  the  Society 
at  the  throne  of  grace,  on  the  second  Sunday  in  June ; 
accompanied  by  collections  on  that  day,  or  on  some  suc- 
ceeding Sabbath  in  the  same  month,  for  the  Building  Fund, 
or  for  the  Colporteur  Fund." 


75.  Collection  for  Mr,  Oncken. 

An  interesting  letter  was  read  from  Mr.  J.  G.  Oncken,  of 
Hamburg,  Germany,  asking  for  $1,000,  to  aid  him  in  cir- 
culating Pengilly's  Scripture  Guide  on  Baptism,  and  other 
publications.  A  collection  was  taken  in  response  to  Bro. 
Oncken's  urgent  appeal. 


ANNUAL   REPORT    OP   THE   BOARD.  209 


76,  Bunyan's  Works. 

The  proceedings  of  this  Anniversary  were  invested  with 
a  peculiar  interest,  arising  chiefly  from  the  cheering  state- 
ments of  what  had  been  accomplished  during  the  year. 
Six  of  the  volumes  issued  contained  twenty-six  distinct 
works  of  Bunyan  ;  so  that  deducting  the  adopted  and 
ornamental  volumes,  and  the  separate  editions  of  the 
Heavenly  Footman  and  Barren  Fig  Tree,  the  Society  has 
issued  during  the  year  Fifty-  Three  distinct  works,  averag- 
ing more  than  one  work  of  195  pages,  18mo.,  for  each 
week  throughout  the  whole  year. 


77.   Twenty-Ninth  Annual  Meeting — 1853. 

The  Twenty-Ninth  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Society  was 
held  with  the  Spruce  Street  Baptist  Church,  Philadelphia, 
May  4th,  1853 ;  the  President,  Rev.  J.  H.  Kennard,  in 
the  chair.  In  some  opening  remarks  he  alluded  to  the 
successive  deaths  of  former  Secretaries  and  Managers,  and 
to  the  gracious  providence  of  God  in  raising  up  others  to 
fill  their  place,  and  in  blessing  the  Society  with  growing 
prosperity. 

The  total  receipts  for  the  fiscal  year,  it  appeared,  from 
the  Treasurer's  Report,  were  $43,404.88,  of  which 
$25,699.59  were  from  sales.  Expenditures,  $43,397.64. 
Balance  in  the  Treasury,  $42.16. 


78.    Annual  Report  of  the  Board. 

The  Annual  Report  of  the  Board  was  read  by  the  Rev. 
HEMAN  LINCOLN,  Associate  Secretary.      It  opens  with  a 
18* 


210  AMERICAN  BAPTIST  PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

statement  of  several  changes  in  the  executive  officers  of  the 
Society  during  the  year,  particularly  the  failure  of  Bro. 
MALCOM'S  health,  and  his  determination  to  resign — the  ap- 
pointment of  Rev.  KENDALL  BROOKS,  in  September,  1852, 
as  Associate  Corresponding  Secretary,  and  his  resignation 
at  the  close  of  four  months  service — and  the  consent  of  Rev. 
HEMAN  LINCOLN  to  fill  his  place  for  the  remainder  of  the 
year,  which  he  had  accordingly  done.  These  rapid 
changes,  together  with  the  removal  of  three  of  the  expe- 
rienced acting  Managers,  Rev.  G.  B.  IDE,  D.D.,  G. 
KEMPTON,  and  A.  D.  GILLETTE,  from  the  city,  had  pro- 
duced great  perplexity  and  difficulty  in  carrying  on  the 
vast  enterprise  of  the  Society.  Still,  under  the  Divine 
blessing,  it  had  advanced  nobly  and  prosperously,  beyond 
any  former  year. 

PUBLISHING  DEPARTMENT. 

Unparalleled  efficiency  appeared  in  the  Editorial  and 
Publishing  Department.  Seventy- Nine  new  publications, 
comprising  4,792  pages,  had  been  added  to  the  Society's 
Catalogue,  of  which  forty-eight  are  bound  volumes — a 
larger  number  than  during  any  three  previous  years  to- 
gether. The  total  number  of  books  issued  for  the  year 
is  432,100;  comprising  19,618,800  pages;  besides  about 
3,000,000  pages  of  Tracts  ;  total,  22,618,800.  Thirty-six 
of  the  bound  volumes  are  Sunday-school  books  ;  more 
than  doubling  the  number  on  our  Catalogue.  A  Five- 
Dollar  Library  of  fifty  volumes  is  selected,  uniformly 
bound,  and  nearly  ready  for  sale  in  the  Depository. 

Among  the  new  publications  of  the  year  are  the  Ameri- 
can Baptist  Register,  by  J.  Lansing  Burrows,  496  pp. 
octavo,  with  twenty-seven  elegant  engravings  of  churches 
and  colleges  ;  Malcom's  Travels  ;  an  improved  stereotype 
edition  of  Remington  on  Communion,  with  an  appendix ; 
Rise  and  Progress  of  Religion  Memoir  of  Dr.  Cote,  of 


CIRCULATION  OF  BOOKS.  211 

the  Grand  Ligne  Mission  ;  Memoir  of  Mrs.  Jones,  of  the 
Siam  Mission,  enlarged  and  stereotyped  ;  Memorials  of  the 
family  of  Dr.  Carson  ;  Believer's  Pocket  Companion,  by 
"William  Mason  ;  Temptations  of  City  Life,  by  Dr.  Cush- 
man ;  Modern  Infidelity,  by  Robert  Hall,  with  an  Intro- 
duction by  J.  Newton  Brown ;  and  Dew  for  the  Droop- 
ing Flower,  or,  Nine  Letters  to  Miss  Saunders,  by  John 
Foster. 

Sixteen  of  the  Sunday-school  books  are  original  copy- 
right works. 

Marked  improvement  appears  in  the  letter-press  of  the 
books  issued,  without  increase  of  price.  Indeed,  prices 
have  been  again  lowered  to  meet  the  wishes  and  wants  of 
the  public.  For  example,  Fuller's  Works,  and  Bunyan's 
Practical  Works,  have  been  reduced  from  $6  to  $5  each  ; 
and  a  correspondent  reduction  on  all  the  other  books  of 
the  Society  goes  into  effect  the  first  of  July. 

The  Baptist  Record,  of  which  26,000  copies  were  issued 
gratuitously,  is  not  included  in  the  foregoing  statement  of 
new  publications,  although  it  is  composed  mostly  of 
original  matter. 

CIRCULATION  OF  BOOKS. 

The  sales  of  the  year  reached  $25,699.59,  an  increase  of 
nearly  $5,000  over  the  previous  year.  The  profits  paid  all 
expenses,  including  officers'  salaries,  and  yielded  besides 
$1,611  to  the  Society's  treasury. 

Grants  of  books  and  tracts  have  been  increased.  Libra- 
ries have  been  given  to  24  destitute  ministers  the  past  year, 
to  14  Sabbath-schools,  and  to  12  other  persons  and  Socie- 
ties ;  making  228  grants  of  Libraries  in  nine  years.  Grants 
have  also  been  made  as  usual  for  foreign  lands. 

The  Society's  catalogue  now  embraces  a  large  number  of 
volumes  and  tracts,  but  the  circulation  is  comparatively 
limited.  The  Board  therefore  earnestly  urge  on  Associations, 


212  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 

Churches,  and  Pastors  the  importance  of  active  co-opera- 
tion in  spreading  them  abroad. 

A  FLOATING  FUND  of  $10,000  is  recommended  to  be 
formed,  out  of  which,  without  interfering  with  the  present 
capital,  ministers  may  be  gratuitously  supplied  with  the 
means  of  thus  doing  good. 

SUNDAY-SCHOOL    DEPARTMENT. 

The  Society,  at  its  last  anniversary,  having  commended 
this  Department  as  worthy  of  special  care,  an  unusual 
share  of  attention  and  labor  has  been  given  to  it.  The 
number  of  volumes  has  been  doubled,  by  the  addition  of  36 
new  ones,  and  50  volumes  selected  for  a  Five-Dollar  Li- 
brary. 

The  services  of  an  elegant  wood-engraver  have  been 
permanently  secured,  in  order  to  give  new  attractions  to 
our  issues  in  this  department. 

The  Board  suggest  the  great  importance  of  a  more  com- 
plete organization  of  this  department — partly  in  order  to 
collect  and  publish  the  full  statistics  of  our  denominational 
Sabbath-schools,  and  partly  to  facilitate  the  introduction 
of  our  Sabbath-school  books  among  them.  Some  "  central 
organization"  seemed  necessary  to  accomplish  the  former 
object,  "and  the  Publication  Society  may  perhaps  attain 
the  desired  result  more  readily  than  any  other."  If  the 
Sunday-school  Department  can  be  thus  efficiently  organized, 
having  its  auxiliary  branches  established  in  every  State  in 
the  Union,  its  publications  and  sales  will  rapidly  increase, 
and  the  Society  will  feel  the  imperative  necessity  of  estab- 
lishing a  weekly  or  monthly  paper,  as  an  organ  of  com- 
munication with  the  thousands  of  schools  gathered  in  the 
city  and  the  country,  in  every  nook  and  corner  of  this 
gre<  t  Republic.  The  circulation  and  usefulness  of  such  a 
pay  f  can  hardly  be  computed."  Such  were  the  views 
taken  of  this  poiut  iu  the  Ueporl  of  1853. 


COLPORTEUR   DEPARTMENT.  213 


HISTORICAL  DEPARTMENT. 

Another  suggestion  of  this  Report  urged  the  importance 
of  organizing  an  HISTORICAL  DEPARTMENT,  "for  the  special 
purpose  of  collecting  and  preserving  all  documents  eluci- 
dating our  denominational  history,  and  publishing  such 
papers  and  volumes  as  throw  light  upon  the  rise  and 
growth  of  Baptist  churches,  and  the  progress  of  Baptist 
principles,  throughout  the  Union. 

"  The  Publication  Society,  from  its  central  location, 
combined  with  the  advantages  of  a  permanent  building  and 
a  denominational  library,  already  comprehensive  and  valu- 
able, affords  peculiar  facilities  for  a  central  organization, 
with  which  all  the  other  Societies  may  become  co-oper- 
ative. 

"  One  of  the  ultimate  aims  of  such  an  organization 
should  be  to  secure  a  complete  and  reliable  History  of  the 
Denomination  from  the  days  of  the  Apostles. 

"A  more  complete  and  thorough  study  of  the  manu- 
scripts treasured  in  the  great  libraries  of  Europe,  may 
lead  to  the  most  important  discoveries."  The  recent  pub- 
lication of  the  long-lost  work  of  Hippolytus  is  cited  as  an 
encouragement  to  this  hope. 

COLPORTEUR  DEPARTMENT. 

Thirty-four  Colporteurs  were  in  the  employ  of  the  So- 
ciety during  the  fiscal  year,  of  whom  six  were  students. 
Fourteen,  including  eleven  students,  were  commissioned 
after  March  1st,  1853  ;  forty-five  were  in  actual  service  at 
the  date  of  the  Report,  distributed  through  fifteen  States 
and  one  Territory.  The  importance  of  their  work  is  ably 
argued  in  the  Report,  from  which  we  select  a  few  sen- 
tences : 

"Perverts  to  a  barren  skepticism,  both  in  the  highest 


214  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 

and  lowest  circles  of  American  society,  are  far  more  numer- 
ous than  perverts  to  Romanism.  In  the  great  cities  of  the 
Union,  a  rigid  scrutiny  would  probably  discover  a  larger 
number  of  Sabbath-breakers  than  of  church-goers  ;  while 
in  the  more  sparsely  settled  districts  on  the  frontiers, 
habits  of  religious  negligence  are  confirmed  by  the  infre- 
quency  of  public  worship. 

"The  established  ministry  of  the  word  fails  to  correct 
these  evils.  The  ordinary  duties  of  pastors  are  too  en- 
grossing to  admit  of  much  extension  of  labor.  Unless 
some  other  class  is  specially  commissioned  to  look  after 
those  who  neglect  the  sanctuary,  and  feel  no  interest  in 
personal  religion,  they  will  have  no  Gospel,  but  will  live  as 
pagans  in  the  heart  of  a  Christian  nation.  It  is  of  little 
avail  to  erect  beautiful  and  commodious  houses  of  worship  j 
to  fill  the  pulpit  with  a  learned  and  eloquent  ministry  :  they 
are  prejudiced  against  both  churches  and  preachers.  So 
long  as  the  regular  ministry  are  inadequate  to  the  wants 
of  our  growing  population  ;  so  long  as  any  community 
contains  large  numbers  of  errorists  and  skeptics,  and  habit- 
ual neglecters  of  an  evangelical  sanctuary  ;  so  long  as 
numerous  families  can  be  found  unsupplied  with  the  Bible 
and  with  religious  works — so  long  will  the  Colporteur  be 
an  indispensable  auxiliary  to  the  regular  ministry. 

"  We  hope  the  day  is  not  far  distant  when  city  churches 
will  feel  that  their  organization  is  hardly  complete,  unless 
a  Colporteur  is  supported  in  connection  with  the  stated 
pastor.  With  an  intelligent  and  holy  ministry  in  the 
pulpits  to  unfold  gospel  truths  with  comprehensiveness  and 
power,  and  with  a  judicious  and  zealous  baud  of  Colpor- 
teurs to  visit  from  house  to  house,  among  the  habitual 
neglecters  of  the  sanctuary,  the  problem  of  evangelizing 
great  cities  may  be  solved,  and  the  chief  danger  to  our 
Republic,  taught  by  the  stern  lessons  of  past  history,  may 
be  perhaps  averted." 


COLPORTEUR   DEPARTMENT.  215 

The  labors  of  the  Colporteurs  employed  by  the  Society 
during  the  year  were  quite  successful.  The  sale  of  books 
was  largely  increased,  as  well  as  the  gratuitous  distribu- 
tions to  those  unable  to  purchase.  Seven  Colporteurs 
labor  among  the  Germans,  and  one  among  the  Swedes. 
The  Report  says : 

"  The  German  element  in  our  population  is  worthy  of 
especial  attention ;  and  the  great  success  which  has  followed 
well-directed  labor  in  their  behalf,  supplies  abundant 
motives  for  increased  diligence  in  the  future.  The  first 
preaching  among  them,  advocating  our  denominational 
yiews,  was  commenced  by  Rev.  Mr.  Meischman,  now  of 
Philadelphia,  in  Newark,  K  J.,  in  the  year  1839.  His 
coadjutors  have  multiplied  till  the  German  Baptists  in  this 
country  now  number  12  churches,  and  not  far  from  1000 
members.  They  have  united  in  a  regular  Association,  and 
are  expecting  soon  to  establish  a  monthly  paper,  as  a  sub- 
stantial means  of  increasing  the  intelligence  and  strength- 
ening the  unity  of  their  newly  gathered  membership.  A 
large  number  of  German  Colporteurs  will  prepare  the  way 
for  numerous  churches  in  the  next  generation.  Three 
millions  of  German  emigrants  have  found  a  home  among 
us. 

"  One  Missionary  Colporteur  Has  baptized  twenty-five  con- 
verts ;  another, twenty-eight;  another,  sixty-five ;  another, 
one  hundred,  as  consequent  upon  his  labors.  Another  re- 
ports conversions  almost  every  month.  Others  have  assisted 
at  revivals  and  in  the  formation  of  new  churches. 

"  The  Board  regard  with  favor  the  Colporteur  labors  of 
students  during  their  vacations.  It  furnishes  an  admirable 
practical  discipline,  introduces  them  to  an  acquaintance 
with  men  as  well  as  books,  and  saves  them  from  many  mor- 
tifying experiences  which  fall  to  the  lot  of  others,  who  enter 
directly  from  the  cloistered  study  upon  the  duties  of  pas- 
toral life. 


216  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

"  One  of  the  most  pleasing  features  in  the  Colporteur 
operations  of  the  year,  is  the  disposition  manifested  by 
benevolent  Christians  to  sustain  Colporteurs  at  their 
individual  expense.  An  aged  brother  in  Warsaw,  N.  Y., 
has  set  apart  $2500  of  his  property,  and  secured  it  by  bond 
to  the  Society,  for  the  perpetual  support  of  a  Colporteur 
till  the  world  shall  end.  He  writes  with  a  full  heart  of  the 
joy  which  this  step  has  yielded  him,  and  seeks  to  excite 
others  to  emulate  his  example.  '  The  investment  I  have 
made  of  my  property,'  he  says,  '  yields  me  a  far  greater 
interest  in  joy  and  satisfaction  to  my  immortal  spirit,  than 
it  would  if  it  was  in  railroad  stock,  especially  when  I  hear 
the  cars  running  on  the  Sabbath.'  One  brother  in  New 
Hampshire,  and  a  lady  in  Boston,  each  support  a  Colpor- 
teur, and  several  in  Massachusetts,  New  York,  and  Penn- 
sylvania, are  preparing  to  follow  their  example,  Several 
Associations  are  doing  the  same. 

"  In  former  years  the  Board  found  it  difficult  to  obtain 
suitable  laborers.  But  since  the  1st  of  January  nearly 
fifty  applications  have  been  received  from  brethren  highly 
recommended.  This  unexpected  influx  of  candidates  has 
greatly  embarrassed  the  Board.  They  were  formerly  per- 
plexed by  the  want  of  men;  now,  jby  the  want  of  means. 
Providence  is  calling  upon  the  Society  to  increase  the 
number  of  laborers.  One  Hundred  Colporteurs  for  1853  ! 
Twenty  thousand  dollars  for  the  Colporteur  treasury  I  Is 
this  too  much  to  expect  or  ask  from  the  friends  of  the 
Society  ?  Even  this  enlarged  band  of  laborers  is  wholly 
inadequate  to  the  wants  of  the  country,  and  the  sum 
requisite  for  their  support  can  be  furnished  by  the  churches 
with  no  diversion  from  other  charities." 


THIRTIETH   ANNUAL   MEETING.  217 


79.  Annual  Report  Continued. 

Five  pages  of  the  Annual  Report  are  occupied  with  in- 
teresting extracts  from  the  letters  of  Colporteurs. 

AGENCIES. 

Six  Agents  had  been  in  Commission,  Rev.  M.  M.  Dean, 
C.  B.  Marston,  B.  Hicks,  C.  Randall,  R.  G.  Toles,  and 
O.  D.  Taylor  ;  some  only  for  a  short  period.  Mr.  Randall 
alone  labored  the  whole  year.  Rev.  F.  G.  Brown  had  just 
been  appointed  for  New  England.  The  Report  justly 
remarks : 

"The  labors  performed  cannot  be  reckoned  by  dollars 
and  cents.  The  formation  of  public  opinion,  the  diffusion 
of  intelligence  about  the  Society,  the  enlistment  of  pastors 
in  carrying  forward  our  plans  to  benefit  the  Churches,  by 
the  circulation  of  our  publications,  cannot  be  measured  by 
the  monthly  reports  of  the  Agents  announcing  their  col- 
lections." 

Six  Life  Managers  and  forty-nine  Life  Members  were 
added  this  year. 

CCCC  BUILDING   FUND. 

The  $25,000  Plan  for  the  Building  Fund  is  filling  up  : 
$15,417.92  haye  been  received  in  cash,  and  $5,406.60,  in 
pledges  :  total,  $20,824.41.  Several  thousand  dollars  of 
this  sum  were  pledged  on  condition  that  the  whole  amount 
be  secured  by  Oct.  15,  1853. 

THE   FOREIGN   FIELD. 

The  intelligence  from  abroad,  from  Missionaries  aided 
by  this  Society,  shows  a  growing  demand — particularly  in 
Hayti,    Africa,    Burmah;    and    Germany,    Denmark   and 
19 


218  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

Sweden.  Bro.  Oncken  writes  from  Hamburg:  "We 
occupy  a  vast  field — Germany,  Sweden,  Denmark — and  for 
all  these  couutries  we  need  your  aid.  If  the  importance 
of  the  object  was  fairly  brought  before  our  brethren  in  the 
United  States,  I  should  hope  that  $1000  might  soon  be 
raised,  which  would  enable  us  to  effect  much."  Dr.  Daw- 
son  writes  from  Rangoon,  after  the  great  fire  :  "  The  dona- 
tion of  books  from  the  Publication  Society,  will  be  really  a 
most  precious  boon — now  that  we  are  entirely  stripped  of 
every  book  we  owned."  Bro.  Day,  from  Bexley,  Liberia, 
in  acknowledging  a  donation  of  books,  says,  "  I  regard  the 
evangelization  of  Africa  as  the  noblest,  most  glorious  en- 
terprise in  which  the  Churches  can  engage." 

The  field  is  the  world  ;  and  the  operations  of  the  Society 
may  be  indefinitely  extended,  sustained  by  the  liberality  of 
the  Churches,  and  blessed  by  the  presence  of  the  Holy 
Spirit.  The  Officers  and  Managers  crave  a  frequent  re- 
membrance in  the  prayers  of  their  brethren — especially  on 
the  second  Sabbath  in  June." 


80.   Prayer  for  the   Editorial   Secretary. 

The  Annual  Report  was  adopted  and  ordered  to  bo 
printed  under  the  direction  of  the  Board.  On  motion  of 
Rev.  T.  S.  Malcoin  it  was  voted  to  spend  a  season  in  special 
prayer  for  the  recovery  of  Rev.  J.  Newton  Brown,  the 
Editorial  Secretary,  who  was  lying  dangerously  ill,  and 
also,  for  Divine  Wisdom  to  guide  in  all  the  deliberations 
and  doings  of  the  Society.  Rev.  Dr.  Dowling  led  in 
prayer. 

It  is  but  recording  a  fact,  to  mention  here,  that  Mr.  B.'s 
fever  left  him  the  same  afternoon. 


RESIGNATION   OF   REV.    T.    S.    MALCOM.  219 


81.  Special  Meeting  Proposed. 

Rev.  J.  M.  Peck,  D.D.,  submitted  the  following  Reso- 
lutions, which  were  carried  : 

"  Besolved,  That  the  interests  of  the  Baptist  Denomina- 
tion require  the  organization  of  a  Historical  Department 
in  connection  with  the  American  Baptist  Publication 
Society. 

v  Besolved,  That  the  Society  hold  a  meeting  to-morrow 
evening,  at  TJ  o'clock,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  such 
a  Department."  J.  M.  Peck,  D.D.,  H.  G.  Jones,  Jr.,  and 
H.  Lincoln,  were  appointed  a  Committee  to  report  a  plan 
of  organization. 


82.   Resignation  of  Kev.  T.  S.  Malcom. 

Rev.  T.  S.  MALCOM,  the  Corresponding  Secretary  elect, 
on  account  of  impaired  health,  requiring  prolonged  absence 
from  the  Society,  tendered  his  resignation.  It  was  ulti- 
mately accepted,  and  Rev.  J.  Dowling,  D.D.,  J.  H.  Ken- 
nard,  and  T.  Wattson,  Esq.,  were  chosen  a  Committee  to 
draw  up  and  present  suitable  Resolutions.  The  following 
Resolutions  were  reported  and  adopted  : 

"Besolved,  That  in  consenting  to  accept  the  resignation 
of  the  Rev.  T.  S.  MALCOM,  as  Corresponding  Secretary 
of  the  American  Baptist  Publication  Society,  an  office 
which  he  has  held  for  the  last  seven  years  with  honor  to 
himself  and  great  advantage  to  the  Society,  we  desire  to 
express  our  high  appreciation  of  eminent  services  performed 
by  him  in  contributing  to  raise  it  to  its  present  position 
of  importance  and  usefulness.  His  name  will  ever  be 
identified  with  the  history  of  the  Society,  as  one  of  its 
truest  benefactors  and  greatest  blessings. 


220  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

"  Resolved,  That  we  consent  to  the  acceptance  of  his 
resignation  only  on  account  of  his  own  positive  statement 
that  an  imperative  conviction  of  duty  compels  him  to  retire 
from  the  arduous  and  exhausting  labors  of  this  position. 

"  Resolved,  That  in  parting  with  our  beloved  brother, 
with  whom  we  have  so  long  labored  in  connection  with  the 
Society,  our  prayers  shall  go  with  him  that  his  health  may 
soon  be  fully  restored,  and  his  useful  life  long  be  spared, 
that  he  may  continue  to  be  as  rich  a  blessing  to  the  Church 
and  to  the  world,  as  he  has  been  since  his  connection  with 
this  Society." 

83.  Choice  of  a  Successor. 

Rev.  HEMAN  LINCOLN  was  chosen  to  fill  the  vacant  post, 
and  a  committee  appointed  to  wait  upon  the  Baptist 
Church  of  Jamaica  Plains,  Mass.,  to  obtain  their  consent 
to  release  him  from  recent  engagement  as  their  pastor 
elect. 

This  measure  was  unsuccessful.  The  Church  refused  to 
give  him  up  ;  and  Rev.  WILLIAM  SHADRACH  was  chosen  in 
his  room  as  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Society. 


84.  Resolutions. 

We  return,  however,  to  the  Annual  Meeting.  Besides 
several  Resolutions  of  a  general  character,  we  find  the  fol- 
lowing, submitted  by  Rev.  J.  W.  Smith : 

"Resolved,  That  the  formation  of  a  second  $10,000 
Fund,  to  secure  greater  facilities  to  Pastors  in  the  circula- 
tion of  the  Society's  publications  in  their  fields  of  labor, 
will  enlist  a  large  and  earnest  band  of  volunteer  Colpor- 
teurs in  the  service  of  the  Society,  and  promote  the  growth 
of  intelligent  piety  in  the  Churches." 


AMERICAN    BAPTIST    HISTORICAL    SOCIETY.  221 

The  recommendation  of  the  second  Sabbath  in  June  as 
a  day  of  special  prayer  and  collection  for  the  Society,  was 
renewed  for  the  third  time. 


85.  American  Baptist  Historical  Society. 

On  Thursday  evening  the  Society  met,  as  appointed,  to 
take  into  consideration  "the  formation  of  a  NATIONAL 
HISTORICAL  SOCIETY."  A  Constitution  was  presented  by 
the  Committee,  chosen  for  that  purpose ;  who  stated,  in  sub- 
stance, that  instead  of  a  Historical  Committee,  they  had 
thought  it  best  to  give  the  Department  "  a  separate,  per- 
manent form,"  at  the  same  time  that  the  officers  should  be 
elected  by  the  Publication  Society. 

The  Constitution  was  unanimously  adopted.  The  fol- 
lowing officers  were  chosen  for  the  first  year  :  Rev.  W.  R. 
Williams,  D.D.,  of  New  York,  President;  J.  M.  Peck, 
D.D.,  William  Hague,  D.  D.,  Baron  Stow,  D.  D.,  andR.  B. 
C.  Howell,  D.D.,  Vice-  Presidents ;  Horatio  G.Jones,  Jr., 
Secretary;  Rev.  B.  R.  Loxley,  Treasurer;  Rev.  J. 
Belcher,  D.D.,  J.  Cowling,  D.  D.,  J.  L.  Burrows,  H.  Lin- 
coln, W.  Jewell,  M.  D.,  and  J.  Hanna,  Esq.,  Curators. 

Rev.  John  M.  Peck,  D.  D.,  then  delivered  an  Address 
on  "  The  Distinctive  Principles  of  the  Baptists." 

H.  G.  Jones,  Esq.,  offered,  and  together  with  Rev.  Dr. 
Malcom,  sustained  the  following  Resolution  : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  eminent  labors  of  the  early  Baptists 
of  this  country,  their  self-sacrifices,  and  their  noble  devo- 
tion to  the  cause  of  Truth  and  the  important  principles 
which  have  always  distinguished  the  denomination,  make  it 
sacredly  incumbent  on  us  to  associate  for  the  preservation 
of  all  documents  which  can  furnish  to  us,  and  to  posterity, 
the  fullest  possible  record  of  their  sentiments,  their  suffer- 
ings, and  their  success." 
19* 


222  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

The  resolution  was  adopted,  and  after  prayer,  the  meet- 
ing adjourned. 

Thus  was  organized  the  American  Baptist  Historical 
Society — a  dependent  but  perfectly  distinct  body,  the  child 
of  the  Publication  Society.  Its  Constitution  is  found 
below. 

CONSTITUTION. 

ARTICLE  1.  This  Department  shall  be  called  THE 
AMERICAN  BAPTIST  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY. 

ARTICLE  2.  The  object  of  this  Society  shall  be  to  collect 
and  preserve  all  manuscripts,  documents  and  books,  relating 
to  Baptist  History ;  the  biographies  of  individuals,  &c., 
&c.,  and  to  publish  such  historical  and  antiquarian  works 
as  the  interests  of  the  Denomination  may  demand. 

ARTICLE  3.  This  Society  shall  be  composed  of  two 
classes  of  members,  to  wit:  1st.  Contributing  members ;  who 
shall  consist  of  all  such  persons  as  may  make  an  annual 
payment  of  one  dollar  to  the  Treasurer,  or  as  may  collect 
and  contribute  to  the  Society  any  valuable  historical  docu- 
ments, periodicals,  or  manuscripts.  2d.  Corresponding 
members ;  of  whom  not  less  than  one  in  each  State  shall 
be  appointed.  All  members  shall  be  elected  by  the  Board 
of  Curators. 

ARTICLE  4.  The  officers  of  the  Society  shall  consist  of  a 
President,  eight  Vice-Presidents,  a  Corresponding  and  a 
Recording  Secretary  and  a  Treasurer,  who  with  twelve 
other  persons  shall  constitute  a  Board  of  Curators.  The 
officers  shall  be  elected  by  "  The  American  Baptist  Pub- 
lication Society,"  at  each  annual  meeting,  and  shall  hold 
their  offices  until  their  successors  are  appointed. 

ARTICLE  5.  The  Board  of  Curators  shall  have  the 
control  and  management  of  all  such  manuscripts,  periodi- 
cals and  books,  as  may  be  collected  by  or  contributed  to 
the  Society,  and  they  shall  present  a  report  of  their  pro- 
ceedings to  "  The  American  Baptist  Publication  Society," 


THIRTIETH   ANNUAL   MEETING.  223 

at  each  anniversary,  and  shall  fill  all  vacancies  that  may 
occur  in  their  body. 

ARTICLE  6.  This  Society  shall  hold  an  annual  meeting 
in  connection  with  the  Anniversary  of  the  Publica- 
tion Society,  when  a  Historical  Address  shall  be  delivered 
by  such  person,  and  on  such  subject,  as  the  Board  of  Cura- 
tors may  designate. 

ARTICLE  t.  Any  Society  organized  for  the  same  or 
similar  object,  may  become  a  co-operating  body  with  this, 
by  opening  a  correspondence  with  this  Society,  and  fur- 
nishing a  copy  of  their  constitution,  reports,  and  publica- 
tions. 

The  officers  and  delegates  of  such  co-operating  Societies 
shall  be  entitled  to  a  seat  at  the  meetings  of  this  Society. 

ARTICLE  8.  The  Board  of  Curators  shall  meet  as  often 
as  they  think  proper,  and  shall  pass  such  By-Laws  as  they 
may  deem  requisite  for  their  government. 

ARTICLE  9.    This  constitution  may  be  altered  or  amended 
at  any  annual  meeting  of     The  American  Baptist  Publi 
cation  Society,    by  that  body." 


86.  Thirtieth  Annual  Meeting. 

The  Thirtieth  Anniversary  of  the  Society  was  held  with 
the  Fifth  Baptist  Church,  Sansom  St.,  Philadelphia,  May 
llth,  1854,  the  President,  Rev.  J.  H.  Kennard,  in  the 
chair. 

It  appeared,  from  the  Treasurer's  Report,  that  the  re- 
ceipts from  all  sources  had  risen  to  $49,612.68 ;  being  an 
increase  of  over  $6000  beyond  the  previous  year.  The 
expenditures  were  $49,552.12:  Balance  in  Treasury, 
$60.56.  Sales,  $32,265.71,  from  $25,699.59,  last  year  : 
Increase,  $6,566.12  over  the  last  year. 


224  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 

87.  Report  of  the   Board. 

The  Annual  Report  of  the  Board  was  read  by  the  Sec- 
retaries. It  announced  the  death  of  two  Vice-Presidents 
of  the  Society,  Hon.  FRIEND  HUMPHREY,  and  GARRET  N. 
BLEEKER,  exemplary  Christians  and  generous  benefactors. 
It  notices  some  changes  in  the  Board,  commends  the 
faithful  gratuitous  labors  of  the  Standing  Committees,  and 
records  the  election  of  the  Rev.  WILLIAM  SIIADRACH  to  the 
office  of  Corresponding  Secretary  in  June,  1853  ;  although 
other  engagements  did  not  permit  his  entrance  on  his  duties 
till  the  first  of  September. 

On  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  the  office  of  Associate 
Secretary  was  abolished,  and  Mr.  Hiram  F.  Reed  was  ap- 
pointed Clerk,  to  aid  the  Corresponding  Secretary,  espe- 
cially in  the  Colporteur  and  Publishing  Departments.  His 
services  proved  very  valuable — combining  practical  knowl- 
ledge,  peculiar  aptitude,  diligence  and  skill. 

PUBLISHING   DEPARTMENT. 

The  number  of  new  publications  was  53 ;  comprising 
5432  pages  ;  equal  to  6228  pages  18mo.  The  number  of 
new  stereotype  plates  added,  was  5347. 

The  total  number  of  pages  printed  the  preceding  yeofr, 
ending  May  1st,  1853,  was  22,678,000.  The  total 
number  of  pages  this  year  was  32,149,000 — (equal  to 
43,977,000  in  18mo.)— being  an  increase  of  nearly  10,000 
pages. 

The  Society's  Catalogue  now  embraced  450  publications  ; 
of  which  208  were  bound  volumes.  Of  the  Tracts,  218 
(including  the  ten  Tracts  for  Children)  were  in  English,  15 
in  German,  and  3  in  French. 

Among  the  new  publications  are  "  The  Memoir  "  of  Mrs. 
Oomstock  of  the  Arracau  Mission  ;  William  Carey  ;  Christ 


AGENCIES.  225 

our  Life  ;  Memorial  of  Baptist  Martyrs  ;  Life  in  Judea ; 
Western  Side  ;  Rock  of  Faith  ;  Modern  Infidelity  ;  Grace 
and  Apostleship  ;  Rome  against  the  Bible  ;  Baptismal 
Balance  ;  Life  and  Times  of  Menno  ;  and  Bunsen's  Yiews 
of  Baptism  ;  besides  24  new  Sunday-school  books  and  9 
new  Tracts. 

Of  the  Baptist  Almanac  20,000  copies  were  issued,  and 
20,000  of  the  Record.  Eight  new  books  in  English  were 
in  Press ;  and  thirteen  in  other  languages — French,  3 ; 
German,  2  ;  Dutch,  1  ;  Swedish,  6 — including  Tracts. 
Fourteen  important  volumes  were  in  contemplation — in- 
cluding John  Foster,  Christmas  Evans,  and  Manuals  of 
Baptist  Theology,  Church  Polity  and  Church  History. 

Correspondence  with  about  twenty  Authors  had  been 
opened  or  maintained  by  the  Editorial  Secretary,  to  pro- 
cure suitable  original  books,  especially  in  the  Sunday- 
school  Department. 

GRANTS. 

Grants  of  Tracts  and  Books  made  this  jear,  amounted 
to  $2,2*73  ;  forty-seven  poor  Ministers  were  furnished  with 
libraries,  at  an  average  value  of  $12  each,  of  well-selected 
books.  Many  poor  Sunday-schools  sending  $5  or  $10, 
received  double  the  worth  of  their  money  by  donation. 
The  Report  says : 

"  In  the  Committee  on  Distributions  scenes  have  some- 
times been  witnessed,  which  move  the  deep  fountains  of 
the  heart.  On  hearing  the  appeal,  eyes  that  do  not  often 
weep,  are  moistened — an  order  follows  in  a  choked  utter- 
ance, '  Send  him  Fuller's  Works,  the  Baptist  Commentary, 
and  Encyclopedia  of  Religious  Knowledge,  and  if  there  is 
no  money  in  the  funds,  charge  to  me.' ': 

AGENCIES. 

The  Report  dwells  at  great  length  on  the  importance  of 
Agencies,  and  labors,  we  think  successfully,  to  dispel  the 


226  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

common  prejudices  against  their  employment.  This  is  an 
uncommonly  valuable  argument.  Six  Agents  were  em- 
ployed during  the  year — Rev.  O.  D.  Taylor,  B.  G.  Toles, 
Charles  Randall,  F.  Gr.  Brown,  J.  W.  Osborn,  and  Bela 
Hicks.  Rev.  D.  C.  Haynes  also  had  just  received  an 
appointment. 

COLPORTEURS. 

Sixty-two  Colporteurs  were  under  appointment;  of 
whom  thirteen  were  students  in  vacation  time.  Forty-two 
only  were  in  commission  at  the  close  of  the  financial  year, 
March  1,  1854.  The  result  of  their  united  labors  is  thus 
stated:  1,089  weeks  of  labor  performed;  28,892  miles 
traveled ;  18,866  volumes  sold  ;  609  volumes  granted ; 
235,308  pages  of  tracts  distributed  ;  3,758  visits  made  to 
vessels  and  canal-boats ;  32,890  family  visits  ;  1,083  prayer- 
meetings  ;  1,558  sermons  preached  ;  341  hopeful  conver- 
sions reported  ;  281  baptisms  administered;  10  churches 
organized,  and  1  Sunday-schools  founded.  The  Report 
says  : 

"  Colportage  may  be  regarded  as  the  right  arm  of  our 
service.  Estimated  by  the  foregoing  facts  and  figures 
only,  we  have  a  clear  proof  of  its  efficiency  and  economy 
as  an  evangelizing  system.  As  a  people,  it  is  believed, 
that  we  possess  peculiar  facilities  for  using  this  effective 
instrument  of  good — the  availability  of  talent  for  the  ser- 
vice, and  the  deep  necessities  of  our  people  for  larger 
and  more  efficient  culture.  Thousands  of  our  people 
depend  on  monthly  sermons,  chiefly,  for  their  religious 
knowledge.  What  a  field  for  books  I  A  vast  mine  of  dor- 
mant and  hidden,  if  not  buried  talent,  might,  and  should  be 
worked,  and  brought  to  light  and  action,  by  projecting  on 
a  broad  scale  our  Colporteur  operations.  Who  doubts 
we  have  such  talent  wasting  ;uul  shriveling  up  for  want 
of  use  ?  We  have  it — we  know  we  have  it — tulunt  which, 


FOREIGN   COLPORTAGE.  227 

if  it  were  called  out,  duly  appreciated,  and  fnlly  enlisted  in 
the  service,  would  waken  up  new  hopes  in  many  despond- 
ing bosoms  as  to  the  world's  conversion. 

"This  agency  combines  and  harmonizes  happily  with  all 
our  other  agencies  for  good.  Our  country  needs,  and 
claims  it  at  our  hands.  The  unwelcome  and  astounding 
fact  is  forced  upon  us,  as  an  indisputable  verity,  that  mil- 
lions of  our  countrymen  are  unevangelized,  and  are  as  far 
from  God,  and  hope,  and  holiness,  as  if  there  were  no 
Saviour,  no  Gospel,  no  salvation  ! 

"  Shall  sin  and  death  hold  undisturbed  dominion  over 
these  millions  of  our  fellow-men  ?  God  forbid.  The 
promise  and  command  of  Christ  forbid  it.  The  safety  of 
our  country's  institutions  forbids  it.  Christian  pity  and 
piety  arid  patriotism  join  to  forbid  it.  Then  send  Colpor- 
teurs. Wherever,  over  the  broad  surface  of  the  land,  ig- 
norance needs  instruction,  vice  a  corrective,  guilt  pardon, 
and  despair  hope,  there  send  these  men  ;  and  if  they  cannot 
do  all  that  is  desired,  let  them  do  what,  by  the  help  of  God, 
they  may,  to  stem  the  torrent  of  moral  evil." 

No  less  than  twelve  pages  of  the  Report  are  then  filled 
with  the  returns  and  extracts  from  the  letters  of  Colpor- 
teurs. Many  of  the  details  given  are  full  of  the  deepest 
interest. 


88.  Foreign  Colportage, 

"  In  several  provinces  of  Sweden,"  says  the  Report,  "a 
religious  awakening  has  been  in  progress  for  years,  and  it 
is  at  this  moment  advancing  with  increasing  power.  It 
is  marked  by  one  surprising  feature.  Without  a  ministry 
of  our  Baptist  faith,  many  of  the  subjects  of  this  awakening 
have  embraced  our  principles,  and  they  seek  an  adminis- 
trator from  whom  they  may  receive  baptism.  In  the  true 


228  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

martyr-spirit,  they  meekly  suffer  all  the  opposition,  scorn, 
and  persecution  of  a  prejudiced  populace  and  an  intolerant 
government. 

11  This  is  a  most  inviting  field  for  Colportage.  For  while 
the  Conventicle  Act  seals  the  lips  of  a  preacher,  the  Press 
is  free,  and  books  to  any  extent  may  be  circulated  without 
let  or  hindrance.  Five  brethren  in  Sweden  have  been  well 
recommended  to  the  Board  as  Colporteurs. 

"  Rev.  Andreas  Wiberg,  now  in  this  city,  preparing  books 
and  tracts  under  the  direction  of  the  Board,  is  expected  to 
go  back  to  Sweden  soon,  where  he  can  superintend  and 
help  forward  the  cause.  Eight  or  ten  Colporteurs  could 
be  appointed  at  once,  had  we  the  means  to  sustain  them. 

"  In  France  also,  a  small  Baptist  church  was  formed  a  few 
years  since  for  the  city  of  Bordeaux.  They  have  sent  ap- 
plication to  us  to  get  three  tracts  published,  prepared  by 
one  of  their  number,  brother  Renard.  They  also  ask  aid 
for  means  to  circulate  them.  They  thus  strongly  appeal 
to  us:  'Baptist  Christians!  France  sent  you  bayonets 
more  than  threescore  years  ago,  to  aid  you  in  founding 
your  Republic  ;  now  we  solicit  your  aid,  by  the  help  of  the 
Lord,  to  evangelize  that  same  France,  if  it  be  dear  to 
you.' 

"An  application  has  also  been  received  from  Rev.  E.  B. 
Cross,  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a  Colporteur  of  our 
Society  in  the  English  settlement  at  Cape  Town,  in  South 
Africa.  Our  missionaries  to  Burmab  often  stop  there  on 
their  way,  as  brother  Cross  did.  He  recommends  a  man 
living  on  the  spot,  as  a  Colporteur. 

Another  application  comes  from  brother  Jacob  Yon 
Brun,  of  Bexley,  Liberia.  He  is  a  native  African,  who 
had  charge  of  the  mission  of  our  Missionary  Union  before 
the  arrival  of  brethren  Shermer  and  Goodwin." 


REPORT   OF   THE    HISTORICAL   SOCIETY.  229 


89.  Building  Fund. 

The  Building  Fund  of  $25,000  was  made  up  before  the 
15th  of  October,  1853.  But  the  Committee  of  Inquiry, 
raised  to  see  how  it  could  be  most  advantageously  ex- 
pended, reported  unfavorably  to  the  present  location,  and 
recommended  removal  to  a  more  eligible  point.  A  new 
impetus  was  given  to  this  plan  by  the  generous  offer  of 
$12,000  from  two  brethren  to  aid  in  carrying  it  into  effect, 
provided  $18,000  more  could  be  secured  to  purchase  a  lot 
and  erect  a  suitable  building.  The  present  lot  and  build- 
ing are  too  small  for  our  rapidly  expanding  work. 


90.  Publishing  Fund. 

On  this  subject  the  Board  express  a  deep  conviction  of 
the  necessity  of  a  speedy  increase  of  working  capital. 
The  work  required  grows  faster  than  the  capital.  At 
least  $20,000  is  needed  for  this  special  purpose  ;  besides 
all  that  may  be  required  to  open  a  few  central  Depositories 
on  a  safe  plan.  "  The  Society  has  now  a  broad  and  firm 
foundation.  It  asks  a  larger  workshop  and  more  imple- 
ments, or  means  to  make  them.  Shall  it  be  denied  ?" 

The  Annual  Report,  from  which  we  have  extracted 
above  more  largely  than  we  intended,  on  account  of  its 
excellence  and  importance,  was  unanimously  adopted,  and 
ordered  to  be  printed  under  the  direction  of  the  Board  of 
Managers. 

91.  Report  of  the  Historical  Society. 

Dr.  Belcher,  in  the  absence  of  the   Secretary,  H.  G. 
Jones,  Esq.,  then  presented  to  the  Society  the  First  An- 
20 


230  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 

nnal  Report  of  the  Board  of  Curators  of  the  American 
Baptist  Historical  Society ;  which  was  ordered  to  be  printed 
with  the  Minutes.  He  also  presented  to  the  Society  a 
beautiful  portrait  of  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Staughton^  a  gift 
from  Dr.  W.  M.  Fahnestock,  of  Bordentown,  N.  J.,  which 
was  received  with  appropriate  remarks  by  Rev.  Dr.  Dow- 
ling. 

The  officers  of  the  Historical  Society  were,  by  ballot, 
elected  for  the  ensuing  year. 


92,    Committees  on  the  Annual  Report  of  the  Board. 

Committees  were  appointed,  for  the  first  time,  on  motion 
of  Rev.  Dr.  Dowling,  to  report  on  the  several  parts  of  the 
Annual  Report  of  the  Board  of  Managers  of  the  Publica- 
tion Society.  These  reports  will  be  found  in  the  Minutes; 
and  though  extremely  able  and  valuable,  need  only  be  re- 
ferred to  here,  in  connection  with  the  proceedings  of  the 
Society. 


93.  Addresses  and  Annual  Sermon. 

Interesting  Addresses  were  delivered  by  Rev.  J.  C. 
Burroughs,  of  Chicago,  G.  W.  Sampson,  of  Washington. 
;in<l  J.  G.  Oncken,  of  Germany,  on  the  value  of  a  Christian 
Literature,  and  t'he  utility  of  books  and  tracts  in  the  work 
of  evangelization. 

The  Annual  Sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Dr.  Stow,  of 
Boston,  on  the  words  in  John  xix.  25.  In  (he  <'stim;iii<>ii 
of  the  preacher,  the  work  of  the  Publication  Sn<-u -tv  drrm -d 
its  value  and  glory  from  its  connection  with  the  Cross  of 
Christ,  and  its  power  to  spresid  the  transforming  \IK\VS 
FROM  CALVARY  over  our  country  and  the  world. 


REPORT   OF   THE   BOARD.  231 

The  officers  chosen  tin's  year  were  Rev.  J.  H.  KENNARD, 
President ;  Rev.  Wm.  SHADRACH,  Corresponding  Secre- 
tary ;  Rev.  J.  NEWTON  BROWN,  Editorial  Secretary  ;  Bro. 
B.  R.  LOXLEY,  Assistant  Treasurer  and  Depository  Agent ; 
JOHN  HANNA,  Esq.,  Recording  Secretary,  and  W.  W. 
KEEN,  Treasurer ;  besides  31  Yice-Presidents  and  21 
Managers. 


94.  Thirty-First  Annual  Meeting— 1855. 

The  Society  held  its  Thirty-First  Anniversary  with  the 
First  Baptist  Church  in  Chicago,  111.,  May  11,  1855.  In 
the  absence  of  the  President,  J.  P.  Crozer,  one  of  the  Yice 
Presidents,  was  called  to  the  Chair.  Rev.  Jirah  D.  Cole, 
of  111.,  was  appointed  Recording  Secretary,  pro,  tern. 
Brethren  present,  not  members  of  the  Society,  were  invited 
to  share  in  its  deliberations. 

The  Treasurer's  Report  was  read.  Receipts  from  all 
sources,  $52,705.74;  Disbursements,  $52,660.22  ;  Balance 
in  hand,  $45,52.  Increase  over  the  preceding  year, 
$3,093.06.  From  Sales  of  Publications  were  received, 
$32,819.03  ;  for  Benevolent  operations,  $13,096.86  ;  for 
Capital,  $5214.18.  Debts,  $15,801.72.  Total  Assets, 
$79,468.70;  Balance,  $63,666.98. 


95.  Report  of  the   Board. 

An  Abstract  of  the  Report  of  the  Board  was  read  by  the 
Secretary,  Rev.  Dr.  Shadrach.  It  was  ordered  to  be 
printed  ;  and  such  portions  as  relate  to  Depositories  and 
Foreign  and  Domestic  Colportage,  were  referred  to  Com- 
mittees. 

The  Annual  Report  opens  with  an  allusion  to  the  place 


232  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 

of  meeting,  as  being  the  first  time  since  its  origin  that  its 
Anniversary  was  held  west  of  the  Alleghanies  ;  notwith- 
standing it  had  so  long  and  strenuously  labored  for  the 
benefit  of  the  West.  It  also  notices  with  gratitude  the 
unbroken  harmony  of  its  counsels  in  a  year  of  sad  confusion. 
It  then  enters  into  an  explanation  of  its  peculiar  organiza- 
tion, as  both  a  BENEVOLENT  and  BUSINESS  Society,  and  the 
relation  of  these  two  features  of  its  Constitution  to  each 
other,  and  to  the  Churches.  It  then  presents  the  work  of 
the  year,  in  the 

PUBLISHING   DEPARTMENT. 

The  total  number  of  pages  issued  during  the  year  was 
26,598,000,  equal  to  32,109,000  18mo.  pages.  New  pub- 
lications, 44;  comprising  6234  pages,  making  9,050,000 
pages,  equal  to  10,610,000,  in  18mo.  Also  20,000  copies 
of  the  Almanac,  and  10,000  of  the  Record. 

The  number  of  works  on  the  Society's  Catalogue  was 
4*16  ;  218  of  which  were  bound  volumes.  Of  the  Tracts, 
224  were  in  English,  including  11  Children's  Tracts;  6  in 
French  ;  15  in  German  ;  and  8  in  Swedish. 

Among  the  new  publications  were — The  Pure  Church  ; 
The  Travels  of  True  Godliness ;  Doddridge  on  Regene- 
ration ;  Memoir  of  Mrs.  Lord,  of  the  Chinese  Mission ; 
Alleine's  Alarm ;  Baxter's  Saint's  Rest ;  Pike's  Guide 
to  Young  Disciples ;  Worship  at  Work,  by  W.  R.  Wil- 
liams, D.D.  ;  Wiberg  on  Baptism,  in  Swedish  ;  Life  and 
Times  of  Menno,  in  German  ;  and  the  Pilgrim  Harp,  a 
new  German  Hymn  Book,  prepared  by  brethren  Fleischman 
and  Rauschenbush ;  besides  13  original  Sabbath-school 
books,  including  The  (Baptist)  Sabbath-school  Harp,  pre- 
pared by  brethren  Burrows,  Cheney,  and  Brown.  All 
these  are  fully  described  in  the  Report. 

The  number  of  new  SUTrohj.r  plates  udded  was  3763. 


DEPOSITORIES.  233 


96.  New  Form  of  Constitution. 

An  amended  form  of  Constitution  was  presented,  as 
required  by  the  Society  the  last  year,  the  aim  of  which  was 
twofold — strict  conformity  with  the  Charter,  and  an  exten- 
sion (if  possible)  of  its  nationality. 

GRANTS. 

Poor  Sunday-schools  have  been  supplied  with  more  or 
less  books  in  every  instance  of  application.  Thirty-six 
poor  Ministers,  with  a  Library  worth  $10  each.  The  Col- 
porteurs distributed  freely  near  half  a  million  of  tracts. 
Grants  have  also  been  made  to  Missionaries  and  mission- 
stations  in  foreign  lands — Canada,  Hayti,  Germany,  Swe- 
den, Africa,  and  China.  Total  value  of  grants  for  the  year, 
$2,134.42.  Tenfold  that  amount  could  be  distributed 
every  year  were  the  means  at  command.  The  appeals  of 
last  year  for  this  purpose  failed  of  effect. 


97.  Depositories. 

The  policy  of  founding  Branch  Depositories,  under 
proper  guardianship  and  supervision,  recommended  at  the 
last  Anniversary,  received  the  earnest  and  prayerful  atten- 
tion of  the  Board.  With  a  book  stock  of  $20,000,  nearly 
half  of  which  was  in  the  hands  of  Colporteurs,  it  was 
necessary  to  proceed  with  caution,  and  on  a  scale  propor- 
tioned to  the  means.  To  meet  the  expectations  of  some 
sanguine  minds,  would  require  half  a  million,  if  not  an 
almost  boundless  capital. 

In  October,  by  direction  of  the  Board,  the  Corresponding 
Secretary  visited  the  principal  cities  of  the  West  on  an  ex- 
ploring tour.  He  met  in  quick  succession  the  State  Coiiveu- 
20* 


234  AMERICAN    BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

tions  of  Michigan,  Ohio,  and  Wisconsin,  and  the  General  As- 
sociation of  Illinois,  for  the  purpose  of  inquiry  and  consulta- 
tion. In  Chicago  and  St.  Louis  generous  overtures  were 
made  by  private  brethren  ;  rooms  were  offered  for  Deposi- 
tories, and  pledges  given  to  cover  all  expenses  attendant 
on  the  experiment.  On  his  return,  these  facts  and  proposi- 
tions were  submitted  to  the  Board,  together  with  a  plan 
of  operation.  All  these  appeared  feasible  ;  but  the  sudden 
pressure  in  the  financial  world  produced  first  hesitation 
and  then  a  panic  over  the  country.  The  St.  Louis  breth- 
ren requested  delay.  But  in  January,  it  was  resolved  by 
the  Board  to  establish  a  Branch  Depository  at  Chicago, 
together  with  a  District  Agency.  At  the  same  time  a 
similar  resolution  was  passed  in  favor  of  St.  Louis,  as  soon 
as  they  should  desire  it. 

The  Depository  at  Chicago  was  put  under  the  care  of 
Rev.  Leroy  Church  and  Rev.  J.  F.  Childs.  The  District 
Agency  was  temporarily  accepted  by  Rev.  J.  A.  Smith. 
Nine  of  the  Western  Colporteurs  are  attached  to  this 
Agency ;  and  more  should  be  added.  No  less  than  30  or 
40,  should  be  attached  to  each  Branch  Depository. 
Churches,  Pastors,  and  Sabbath-schools  should  co-operate 
in  planting  the  goodly  tree,  until  in  time,  "  the  fruit  there- 
of shall  shake  like  Lebanon." 

BUILDING  FUND 

The  plan  of  raising  $30,000  for  a  new  building,  which 
began  so  auspiciously,  was  retarded  in  its  execution  by  the 
pressure  of  the  times.  The  subscription  stands  at  $13,150. 
Old  subscription,  $25,882.98.  Total,  $39,032.98. 

PUBLISHING   FUND. 

To  the  same  cause  must  be  ascribed  the  failure  to  raise 
$20,000  as  an  addition  to  the  working  capital  of  the  Society. 
This  want  was  more  pressing  even  than  the  former. 


DOMESTIC  COLPORTETTBS.  235 

The  preparation  and  issue  of  works  greatly  needed  and 
loudly  called  for,  were  thus  unavoidably  delayed.  The  in- 
crease of  stock  demanded  to  supply  the  growing  Colpor- 
teur force,  and  to  ensure  the  success  of  Branch  Deposito- 
ries, cannot  be  made  without  it. 

AGENCIES. 

Eight  Agents  were  employed  during  the  year,  more  or  less. 
Five  remained  in  the  service  of  the  Society.  All  com- 
plained of  the  difficulty  of  raising  funds,  even  where  this 
object  was  more  cordially  approved. 

DOMESTIC   COLPORTEURS. 

The  whole  number  of  Colporteurs  in  commission  was 
114,  of  whom  34  were  College  students.  These  laborers 
were  distributed  through  21  States  and  Territories,  and 
from  New  England  to  Oregon,  from  Canada  to  Texas.  At 
the  close  of  the  year,  69  were  in  commission  ;  35  of  whom 
were  sustained  by  funds  specially  designated.  The  result 
of  their  labors  is  summed  up  thus  : 

Weeks  of  labor  performed,  1,809 ;  miles  travelled,  74,651 5 
volumes  sold,  36,122;  volumes  gratuitously  distributed, 
2,107  ;  besides  485,980  pages  of  Tracts ;  sermons  preached, 
3,201;  prayer-meetings  held,  1,816;  converts  baptized, 
368;  families  visited,  73,314;  new  Sabbath-schools  estab- 
lished, 43  ;  new  churches  planted,  15.  No  less  than  2,290 
families  were  found  without  the  Bible.  The  value  of  pub- 
lications sold  was  $12,407.86.  Extracts  from  Colporteurs' 
letters  fill  ten  pages  of  the  Report. 

Nearly  all  this  spiritual  husbandry,  it  should  be  remem- 
bered, was  bestowed  on  waste  and  desert  places.  Colport- 
age,  as  carried  on  by  this  Society,  in  the  main,  is,  strictly 
speaking,  a  preaching  institution.  Most  of  the  Colport- 
eurs are  ministers  of  Christ. 


236  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 


98.  Colportage  in  Sweden. 

In  Sweden,  Rev.  C.  F.  Hejdenberg,  becoming  a  Bap- 
tist, went  to  Hamburg  and  was  baptized.  On  bis  return 
he  baptized  many  waiting  believers,  and  constituted  four 
Baptist  churches.  Persecution  has  raged  against  these 
dear  disciples  in  various  distressing  forms,  but  in  vain. 
The  opposition  has  but  fanned  the  holy  flame.  Earnest 
appeals  are  made  for  Colporteurs,  tracts  and  books.  They 
have  the  men,  but  lack  the  means.  Shall  we  supply  these 
means  ? 

A  volume  on  Baptism  and  Communion,  besides  several 
Tracts  prepared  by  brother  Wiberg,  in  Swedish,  have  been 
stereotyped  by  the  Board,  and  500  copies  of  the  book 
have  been  put  at  the  disposal  of  the  author.  Brother 
Wiberg  longs  to  go  back  to  his  afflicted  brethren,  aware 
of  the  perils  that  await  him,  but  unable  longer  to  resist 
their  pressing  calls.  He  has  prepared  a  plan  of  Colport- 
age in  Sweden.  Means  are  alone  wanting  to  carry  it  out. 
He  is  just  the  man  to  superintend  this  important  move- 
ment. 

The  Report  closes  with  an  earnest  appeal  for  help  to 
carry  on  the  great  and  ever-growing  work  entrusted  to  the 
Board  by  the  American  Baptist  Churches,  and  requests  a 
continued  remembrance  in  prayer. 


99.    Reports  of  Committees,  &c,  &c. 

The  various  Committees  on  Domestic  and  Foreign  Col- 
portage  Publications  in  Foreign  Languages  made  their 
reports ;  which  were  adopted  and  ordered  to  be  prinir»l 
with  the  Minutes.  A  letter  of  deep  interest  from  Rev.  C. 


REPORTS   OF   COMMITTEES,    &C.  23t 

F.  Hejdenberg,  our  imprisoned  brother  in  Sweden,  was 
read,  and  ordered  to  be  printed  with  the  Minutes. 

The  Amended  Constitution,  as  reported  by  the  Board, 
was  fully  discussed,  and  finally  adopted.  Sup.  270. 

The  Officers  and  Managers  for  the  ensuing  year  were 
chosen:  Mason  Bray  man,  Esq.,  of  Chicago,  President; 
Rev.  J.  H.  Kennard,  J.  P.  Crozer,  Esq.,  Hon.  J.  H. 
Duncan,  Hon.  Thos.  W.  Ewart,  Vice- Presidents ;  Rev. 
"Win.  Shadrach,  D.D.,  Secretary ;  Rev.  George  C.  Bald- 
win, D.D.,  Recording  Secretary;  W.  W.  Keen,  Trea- 
surer; and  21  Managers. 

Standing  Officers  of  the  Board,  Rev.  J.  H.  Kennard, 
Chairman  ;  Rev.  T.  S.  Malcom,  Recording  Secretary;  Rev. 
J.  Newton  Brown,  D.  D.,  Editor  ;  Rev.  B.  R.  Loxley,  De- 
pository Agent. 

On  motion  of  Rev.  E.  L.  Magoon,  seconded  by  Rev.  G. 
S.  Webb— 

"Resolved,  That  our  thanks  are  due  to  our  excellent 
brother,  Rev.  Joseph  H.  Kennard,  for  the  courtesy  and 
fidelity  with  which,  for  ten  years  past,  he  has  presided  over 
the  councils  and  aided  the  funds  of  the  Society ;  and  that, 
in  acceding  to  his  request  for  withdrawal  from  the  Presi- 
dency, we  shall  entertain  toward  him  sentiments  of  undi- 
minished  gratitude  and  esteem. 

The  Chairman,  bro.  Crozer,  then  introduced  to  the 
Assembly,  Mason  Brayman,  Esq.,  the  newly-elected 
President  of  the  Society,  who  made  a  brief  address. 

Resolutions  were  adopted  in  favor  of  the  sanctified 
Press,  the  Sabbath-school,  and  an  increase  of  Colportage, 
accompanied  with  brief  voluntary  addresses ;  after  which 
the  Society  adjourned,  with  prayer  by  Rev.  B.  M.  Hill,  D.D., 
of  New  York. 

Thus  closed  the  Thirty-First  Anniversary  of  the  Society, 
from  the  beginning  in  1824,  and  the  Fifteenth  from  the 
time  of  its  reorganization  in  1830. 


238  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 


100.   Thirty-Second  Annual  Meeting. 

The  Thirty- Second  Anniversary  was  held  with  the 
Oliver  Street  Church,  New  York,  May  12,  1856  ;  Rev. 
J.  Kennard,  D.D.,  in  the  absence  of  the  President,  was 
called  to  the  chair.  Prayers  were  offered  by  Rev.  J. 
Aldrich,  of  Mass.,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Howell,  of  Ya.  It  is  a 
fact  illustrating  the  want  of  practical  interest  in  this  great 
denominational  institution,  that  in  a  large  congregation, 
only  eighty-six  members  of  the  Society  were  present. 

The  Treasurers  Report  was  read  by  Rev.  Dr.  Shadrach, 
followed  by  an  abstract  of  the  Report  of  the  Board  of 
Managers.  The  latter  opens  with  the  following : 


101.  General  Retrospect. 

"  Sixteen  years  have  now  elapsed  since  the  American 
Baptist  Publication  Society  was  organized  under  its 
present  name.  As  this  is  precisely  the  number  of  years  in 
wh'ich  it  was  operating  under  its  original  name  of  the  Bap- 
tist General  Tract  Society,  it  is  natural  to  glance  over  the 
work  of  the  two  equal  periods,  and  bring  the  results  into 
comparison.  Could  we  study  them  thoroughly  and  thought- 
fully we  should  probably  be  astonished  to  observe,  in  both 
periods,  how  small  an  amount  was  contributed  by  our  great 
denomination  to  supply  the  capital  necessary  to  accomplish 
its  noble  objects;  and  with  like  probability  we  should  be 
convinced  that  these  objects  were  realized  to  the  full  mea- 
sure of  the  means  placed  at  its  disposal ;  that  the  policy 
of  its  Board  of  Managers  lias  never  IMM-U  narrow — us  some 
have  supposed — but  generous  and  enlarged,  often  indeed 
beyond  its  pecuniary  power ;  that  its  scanty  resources 


GENERAL   RETROSPECT.  239 

have  not  been  wasted,  though  lost  at  times,  in  the  most 
praiseworthy,  but  unrequited  and  unsuccessful  enterprises, 
in  the  establishment  of  Branch  Depositories;  and  that  not- 
withstanding these  losses,  it  has,  by  the  blessing  of  God, 
been  conducted  on  the  whole  with  so  much  diligence,  econ- 
omy and  circumspection  as  to  secure  public  confidence, 
and  also  to  accumulate  a  growing  capital,  inadequate  indeed 
to  its  magnificent  work,  but  still  effectual  in  accomplishing 
inestimable  good,  both  at  home  and  abroad. 

This  will  appear  from  the  following  statistics  : 

In  1840,  the  year  of  reorganization,  the  entire  property 
of  the  Society,  in  stock,  funds  and  cash,  was  $4, 121.  TO. 

lu  1855,  after  deducting  all  liabilities,  it  was  $63,667.03; 
being  a  gain  of  near  $60,000  in  fifteen  years. 

But  it  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  this  property  is  not, 
by  any  means,  all  working  capital.  Deducting  the  Build- 
ing Fund,  of  $21,805.26;  the  Invested  Fund,  of  $61.01; 
and  the  Permanent  Colporteur  Fund,  of  $2,500 ;  the 
interest  of  which  only  can  be  expended  annually ;  there 
remains  for  Publication  purposes,  including  stereotype 
plates,  wood-cuts,  steel  engravings,  &c.,  a  total  residue  of 
$39,300.11. 

As  the  policy  of  the  Society  has  always  been  in  favor 
of  cheap  publications,  it  is  obvious  that  the  rapid  aug- 
mentation of  our  capital  cannot  be  looked  for  from  the  sale 
of  our  books ;  the  prices  of  which,  though  low  at  first, 
have  in  conformity  with  this  policy,  been  reduced  from 
time  to  time.  Hence  it  depends  on  donations  from  the 
churches. 

AVith  tins  limited  amount  of  capital,  let  us  see  what  the 
Society  has  accomplished  in  the  way  of  Publication. 

As  a  Tract  Society,  in  the  first  sixteen  years,  from  1824 
to  1840,  it  issued,  (according  to  a  Circular  prepared  by 
Rev.  J.  M.  Peck,  in  1845,)  fifty-four  millions  of  pages. 

As  a  Publication  Society,  in  fifteen  years,  from  1840  to 


240  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 

1855,  in  books  and  tracts  of  all  sizes,  it  issued  about  one 
hundred  and  thirty  millions  of  pages ;  and  if  we  include 
the  present  year,  to  complete  the -sixteen  of  the  comparison, 
not  far  from  one  hundred  and  forty-six  millions ;  which 
added  to  those  of  the  first  period,  make  a  grand  total  of 
two  hundred  millions  of  pages  of  evangelical  truth — em- 
bracing, in  due  proportion,  those  distinctive  principles  of 
our  New  Testament  belief,  which  are  necessarily  excluded 
from  the  publications  of  other  denominational  and  union 
societies. 

If  we  divide  the  last  period  from  1840  to  1855  into 
three  portions  of  five  years  each,  the  stages  of  progress 
will  be  more  distinctly  and  impressively  seen.  The  first 
half  decade  was  distinguished  by  the  introduction  of  Col- 
portage  ;  the  second,  by  the  creation  of  the  Ten  Thousand 
Dollar  Fund ;  and  the  third,  by  the  opening  and  com- 
pleting of  the  Twenty-Five  Thousand  Dollar  Building 
Fund,  and  entrance  into  the  new  Depository  in  Arch 
Street. 

In  the  first  half  decade,  from  1840  to  1845,  were  issued  4,230,255  pages 
In  the  second,  "  from  1845  to  1850,  18,15.1,863  " 

In  the  third,  "         from  1850  to  1855,  107,587,800      " 

The  remarkable  increase  in  the  last  named  five  years, 
from  1850  to  1855,  is  worthy  of  notice.  It  is  due  to 
several  causes;  among  which  may  be  named  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  permanent  Editor — the  addition  of  the  Ten 
Thousand  Dollar  Fund  to  our  working  capital — the  in- 
crease of  sales  consequent  on  removal  to  the  Arch  Street 
Depository — all  which  occurred  in  1849-50;  to  which 
may  be  added,  since  thai  yrnr,  the  rapid  increase  of  valuable 
books,  the  steady  increase  of  our  Colporteur  force,  and  the 
use  by  loan  of  several  thousand  dollars  of  the  unemployed 
Building  Fund  for  publishing  purposes. 

From  this  brief  retrospect  of  the  preceding  years  of  the 
Society's  history,  we  proceed  to  record  the  work  and  pro- 


RETRENCHMENT.  241 

gress  of  the  last  year — which  completes,  as  we  have  said 
before,  the  sixteenth  year  of  the  Society's  labors  under  its 
present  name  and  more  extended  scope. 


102,  Retrenchment  in  the  Publishing  Department. 

"The  total  number  of  pages  printed  the  past  year  is 
16,276,293  ;  equal  to  18,478;293  pages  in  18mo.  The 
number  of  new  publications  is  twenty-seven,  comprising 
2,157  pages;  of  which  there  are  156  octavo,  416  duode- 
cimo, 1,457  18mo.,  and  128  32mo.,  being  together  equal  to 
2,421  pages  18mo.  This  includes  the  Baptist  Almanac 
for  1856,  of  which  20,000  copies  have  been  printed. 

The  number  of  new  Stereotype  plates  added  during  the 
year  is  1908  :  making  our  total  stock,  35,142  pages.  In 
1850,  it  was  but  12,770. 

The  total  number  of  publications  now  embraced  in  the 
Society's  Catalogue  is  501  ;  of  which  237  are  bound  vol- 
umes ;  of  the  Tracts,  232  are  in  English,  6  in  French,  15  in 
German,  and  11  in  Swedish. 

RETRENCHMENT. 

"  The  falling  off  nearly  one-half  in  the  number  of  pages 
issued,  when  compared  with  the  preceding  year,  is  wholly 
owing  to  the  exhaustion  of  our  available  resources,  and  the 
consequent  necessity  of  retrenchment  for  the  time  being. 
For  many  months,  the  Finance  Committee  judged  it  suffi- 
cient to  keep  up  a  supply  of  our  Catalogue  books,  and  laid 
an  interdict  on  the  issue  of  any  new  publications,  and  also 
on  the  gratuitous  Baptist  Record. 

This  lull  of  his  usual  employment,  enabled  the  Editor 

to  prepare  the  Baptist  Almanac  for  1856  ;  to  collect  and 

examine  a  large  number  of  volumes  bearing  on  the  Church 

History ;  to  extend  his  preparatory  reading  and  plans  in 

21 


242  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

all  directions,  and  to  bring  up  the  "  Historical  Document, 
or  Annals  of  the  American  Baptist  Publication  Society," 
from  1840  to  1855,  according  to  the  wishes  of  the  Board. 
Having  closed  up  his  assigned  work  in  this  Department, 
he  will  be  able  from  this  time,  if  God  permit,  to  devote  him- 
self without  reserve  or  distraction  of  thought,  to  the  great 
Historical  Composition  to  which  the  Society  has  called 
him — the  condition  prescribed  by  the  Board  being  fulfilled. 


103,  Sales,  Receipts,  and  Disbursements 

"  The  Sales  of  books  and  tracts  have  amounted  to 
$35,554.15,  a  slight  advance  on  the  previous  year — of 
which  there  has  been  a  large  increase  in  sales  by  our  Col- 
porteurs, being  $2,103.61  more  than  their  sales  for  the 
year  ending  March,  1855. 

The  receipts  from  all  sources,  including  balance  in  hand 
of  $45.52,  is  $54,501.63.  Disbursements  for  the  year, 
$54,401.51 ;  leaving  a  balance  in  the  Treasury  of  $94.12, 

Of  the  receipts  of  the  year,  $32,368.20  were  from 
sales  of  publications;  $13,279. OT  for  various  objects  of 
benevolence,  such  as  colportage,  general  and  specific  grants 
of  books  and  tracts  to  the  destitute,  and  to  needy  Ministers 
and  Sunday-schools,  and  $5,068.60,  added  to  the  capital 
of  the  Society  for  the  Publishing  and  Building  Funds. 


104.  Benevolent  Funds  Overdrawn.     Debts  and  Assets. 

"The  statement  of  the  Benevolent  Funds  shows,  that 
while  the  Society  is  engaged  in  the  manufacture  and  sale  of 
its  publications,  its  business  operations  have  been  so  con- 
ducted as  not  to  draw  from  these  funds ;  the  disbursements 


DESTITUTION   AND   GRATUITOUS   DISTRIBUTION.         243 

considerably  exceeding  the  amounts  received  for  these  pur- 
poses, leaving  these  funds  overdrawn.  In  the  amount 
received  for  Colporteur  Fund  is  included  the  20  per  cent, 
allowed  on  the  sales  by  the  Colporteurs,  which  is  put  to 
the  credit  of  that  fund  to  aid  the  Colporteur's  work. 

The  assets  of  the  Society,  including  Bills  Receivable, 
Invested  Fund,  Real  Estate,  Book  Stock,  Materials,  such 
as  Paper,  Plates,  Wood  Cuts,  Engravings,  &c.,  foot  up  the 
Bum  of  $78,434.76,  against  which  there  is  a  debt  of 
$9,339.26,  being  less  than  debt  of  last  year  by  $6,464.46; 
leaving  a  balance,  after  discharging  all  liabilities,  of 
$69,095.50  for  the  capital  of  the  Society,  which,  however, 
includes  the  amounts  overdrawn  on  Colporteur,  Ministers' 
Library  and  General  Purpose  Funds,  and  is  exclusive  of 
the  unpaid  pledges  on  the  Building  and  Publishing  Funds. 

The  Treasurer's  Report  exhibits  simply  the  amount  of 
cash  which  passes  through  his  hands,  and  is  exclusive  of  a 
large  amount  of  the  business,  which  cannot  well  be  brought 
into  the  cash  accounts. 


105.  Destitution  and  Gratuitous  Distribution. 

"Among  the  families  visited  by  our  Colporteurs  within 
the  last  two  years,  no  less  than  four  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  forty-six  were  found  without  a  Bible ;  and  nearly 
double  that  number  of  households,  as  actually  seen  by  these 
statistics,  with  no  religious  books  whatever  except  the 
Bible.  We  must,  in  view  of  this  fact,  be  allowed  again  to 
urge  our  earnest  plea  for  more  liberal  contributions,  to  aid 
us  in  lessening  this  sad  destitution  of  the  means  of  Christian 
enlightenment.  We  gratefully  acknowledge  a  grant  of 
Bibles  and  Testaments  from  the  American  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society  to  the  amount  of  $200 ;  thrice  that  amount 
could  be  advantageously  distributed  annually  by  our  Col- 


244  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

porteurs.  The  number  of  volumes  donated  by  Colporteurs 
during  this  year  is  2,782.  Twenty-one  $10  libraries  have 
been  sent  to  needy  Ministers,  and  $179.55  worth  of  books 
to  poor  and  destitute  Sabbath-schools.  Grants  of  books 
and  tracts  to  the  amount  of  $394.55  have  been  sent  to 
foreign  countries,  including  packages  sent  to  Germany, 
Sweden,  Africa,  Hayti,  Canada  and  the  Empire  of  Brazil. 
The  total  amouut  expended  in  these  donations  is  $2070.90, 
a  sum  by  far  too  small,  but  yet  exceeding  the  amount  re- 
ceived for  this  purpose. 

At  the  Annual  Concert  of  Prayer  on  behalf  of  the  Pub- 
lication Society,  the  second  Lord's  day  in  June,  we  hope 
our  brethren  will  bear  in  mind  this  branch  of  our  work, 
and  that  Pastors,  who  know  the  worth  of  a  good  library, 
will  plead  with  the  Churches  on  behalf  of  destitute  Ministers, 
who  complain  that  they  are  '  lame  in  their  efforts  at 
preaching  for  want  of  books.'  This  also  would  be  a  suit- 
able time  to  remember  the  poor  and  famishing  schools  at 
the  West.  We  should  have,  at  least,  one  hundred  $10 
libraries  sent  to  these  Schools  the  present  year.  Remem- 
ber the  poor. 

106.  Branch  Depositories.     Chicago. 

"As  yet  we  are  unable  to  report  a  successful  experiment 
in  carying  out  our  policy  of  Branch  Depositories  and  Dis- 
trict Agencies.  The  branch  at  Chicago,  founded  a  little 
more  than  a  year  ago,  was  closed  at  the  end  of  the  first  six 
months,  owing  mainly  to  the  want  of  a  suitable  District 
Agent  to  take  charge  of  its  interests,  and  provide  for  its 
wants.  Rev.  J.  A.  Smith,  of  Chicago,  had  accepted  a  tem- 
porary agency;  but,  prior  to  entering  on  the  service,  was 
released  at  his  own  request.  In  the  mean  time  the  ex- 
penses of  room  rent  and  clerkship  were  being  incur- 
red, and  though  these  were  light,  yet,  as  we  had  little 


THE  SOCIETY  A  DENOMINATIONAL  NECESSITY.        245 

prospect  of  raising  funds  in  that  field  to  meet  them,  it  was 
deemed  best  to  close  the  concern  for  the  present.  To  sus- 
tain distant  Depositories,  the  incidental  expenses  of  which 
are  not  met  by  contributions  raised  in  their  respective 
localities,  would  be  ruinous.  Such  an  experiment,  several 
years  ago,  was  found  to  result  in  disaster,  and  cannot  soon 
be  repeated. 

With  a  large  Colporteur  force  to  gather  around  such 
Branch  Depositories,  and  an  efficient  Agency  in  the  field 
to  raise  funds  for  Colporteurs'  salaries,  and  incidental  ex- 
penses, the  plan  would,  doubtless,  work  well,  and  be  at- 
tended with  many  decided  advantages.  The  failure  of 
this,  our  first  attempt,  has,  by  no  means,  changed  the  views 
of  your  Board  as  to  the  soundness  and  wisdom  of  such 
a  policy.  Experience  will  guide  us  in  our  subsequent 
efforts  ;  and  we  hope  the  time  is  not  far  distant  when  we 
shall  see  in  Chicago  a  flourishing  Branch  Depository  of  the 
American  Baptist  Publication  Society.  At  the  present 
time  our  books  are  kept  on  sale  by  Messrs.  Keen  &  Lee, 
who  are  engaged,  by  contract,  to  keep  on  hand  continu- 
ally, not  less  than  $300  worth  of  our  books. 


107.  The  Society  a  Denominational  Necessity. 

"  The  American  Baptist  Publication  Society  w»s  organ- 
ized, primarily,  to  meet  what,  at  that  time,  was  regarded 
as  a  denominational  necessity — a  necessity  deeply  felt  and 
acknowledged.  We  were  then  a  numerous  communion, 
and  were  found  diffused  'through  every  part  of  our  peopled 
territory,  but  were  sorely  deficient  in  the  means  of  religious 
instruction.  The  growth  of  our  churches  was  much  more 
rapid,  in  point  of  numbers,  than  that  of  our  Ministry. 
Excepting  some  favored  portions  of  the  older  States,  a 


246  AMERICAN    BAPTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 

great  destitution  of  the  ordinary  means  of  grace  was  every- 
where experienced.  In  the  interior  settlements  of  even 
the  older  States,  the  people  depended  mainly  upon  itinerant 
labor,  and  many  of  the  churches  had  little  religious  train- 
ing save  what  they  derived  from  twelve,  or  even  six,  visits 
during  the  year  from  traveling  preachers ;  and  many  of 
these  but  poorly  instructed  themselves.  Destitute  alike  of 
oral  instruction  and  of  suitable  books,  how  should  our 
people  attain  an  intelligent,  healthful  and  vigorous  piety  ? 
Untrained  in  knowledge,  immature  in  principles,  and  lack- 
ing in  supervision  and  guidance,  they  were  liable  to  be 
carried  away  with  every  wind  of  doctrine;  and  multitudes, 
as  foreseen  and  predicted,  were  ensnared  by  sweeping 
delusions,  and  'damnable  heresies.'  In  the  rural  districts 
and  rising  villages  of  the  West,  the  destitution  and  danger 
were  still  more  apparent,  and  more  appalling.  There, 
literally,  thousands  were  scattered  about  like  sheep  without 
a  shepherd,  or  even  a  fold — with  neither  School,  nor 
Church,  nor  Minister. 

To  lessen  this  destitution,  so  painful  and  threatening, 
our  wise  and  provident  fathers  proposed  a  united  effort 
in  plying  the  Christian  Press.  They  justly  regarded  that 
mighty  instrument  as  full  of  promise,  if  wielded  with  wis- 
dom and  vigor,  to  meet  the  exigency ;  as  fitted  to  supply, 
at  least  in  part,  the  lack  of  oral  instruction  and  pastoral 
oversight ;  to  expose  error,  and  guard  the  flock  of  the  Lord 
against  the  wiles  of  evil  seducers.  The  views  of  the  de- 
nomination were  invoked  on  the  subject,  and  ready  and  cor- 
dial were  the  responses  received  from  all  our  borders. 
Conventions  and  Associations,  great  and  small,  with  una- 
nimity commended  the  measure,  and  our  honored  brethren 
at  the  head  of  the  periodical  press,  with  a  praiseworthy 
zeal,  fostered  the  enterprise. 

Hopes  then  cherished,  we  regret  to  say,  have  been  but 
partially  realized.  While  we  gratefully  own  and  adore  the 


THE  PRESENT  EFFORT.  241 

goodness  of  God  for  what  has  been  done  in  spreading  His 
truth,  we  yet  feel  deeply  abashed  and  confounded,  that, 
with  facilities  so.  great,  resources  so  ample,  and  a  field  so 
necessitous,  and  yet  so  inviting,  we  have  accomplished  so 
little.  Millions  of  pages  of  saving  truth,  it  is  true,  have 
been  sent  abroad  through  this  and  other  lands,  still  the 
stinging  conviction  abides,  that  the  standard  of  duty 
required  that  millions  more  should  have  passed  through  our 
hands.  By  the  blessing  of  God  upon  our  issues,  we  know 
that  light  and  refreshment,  warning  and  wisdom,  peace  and 
joy,  have  been  imparted  to  many  ;  had  our  duty  been  fully 
performed,  multitudes  more  might  have  shared  in  similar 
benefits. 


106.  The  Great  Want. 

"  From  the  commencement  of  our  enterprise  till  the  pre- 
sent, our  great  want  has  been  that  of  an  adequate  Capital. 
Appeals  have  been  made  from  time  to  time ;  but  the 
responses  were  not  in  accordance  with  the  spirit  and  zeal 
with  which  the  plan  was  adopted.  The  voices  and  pens 
of  such  men  as  Davis  and  Knowles,  Brantly,  Allen  and 
Rhees,  plead,  in  their  day,  with  affection  and  force,  for 
ample  means  to  carry  out  the  worthy  design.  But,  except 
the  Ten  Thousand  Dollar  Fund,  closed  in  1848,  and  the 
Twenty-five  Thousand  Dollar  Fund,  for  the  Tract  House, 
completed  in  1853,  together  with  a  few  liberal  legacies  left 
by  ardent  friends  of  the  cause,  little  has  ever  been  done  to 
give  the  Society  strength  and  efficiency. 


107.  The  Present  Effort.— $100,000  Fund. 

"The  present  effort  commenced  in  the  autumn  of  1853,  by 
a  proffer  made  by  two  members  of  the  Board  to  give  five 


248  AMERICAN  BAPTIST  PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

thousand  dollars  each,  upon  condition  that  thirty  thousand 
should  be  raised,  with  a  view  to  provide  the  Society  with 
larger  premises  and  a  better  location.  This  pledge  was 
coupled  with  a  promise  of  further  aid,  provided  an  effort 
were  made  to  raise  an  additional  sum  for  publishing  pur- 
poses. For  this  latter  object  the  sum  of  twenty  thousand 
was  named.  The  two  subscriptions  were  opened  at  once, 
and  jointly  called  for  fifty  thousand  dollars.  They  were  both 
commenced  under  very  auspicious  and  promising  circum- 
stances, and  your  Board  hoped  to  see  them  completed  at  an 
early  day.  But  a  sudden  revulsion  occurring  soon  after  in 
the  business  and  financial  affairs  of  our  country,  our  pro- 
gress was  checked,  and  for  more  than  a  year  they  remained 
nearly  stationary.  In  the  mean  time,  the  legacy  of  three 
thousand  dollars,  left  the  Society  by  its  friend  and  patron 
Garrett  N.  Bleeker,  of  New  York,  gave  us  fresh  hope  and 
encouragement.  It  was  resolved  to  apply  this  legacy  to 
the  Publishing  Fund  as  part  of  the  twenty  thousand  dol- 
lars. Up  to  November  last  the  amount  pledged  on  these 
two  subscriptions  was  a  fraction  over  twenty-three  thou- 
sand, less  than  one  half  the  sum  required  to  make  them 
available.  The  Board  began  to  yield  to  a  feeling  of  dis- 
couragement ;  and  several  of  the  largest  subscribers,  finding 
their  brethren  so  slow  to  co-operate,  were  entertaining  the 
question  of  recalling  their  pledges. 

Some  of  the  friends  to  whom  application  for  aid  was 
made,  both  in  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  objected  to 
our  plan,  not  on  the  score  that  the  sum  we  aimed  to  secure 
was  too  large,  but  because  it  was  too  small,  and  somewhat 
out  of  proportion.  It  was  alleged  that  twenty  thousand 
dollars,  if  raised  for  publishing  purposes,  would  still  leave 
the  Board  to  struggle  with  difficulties  arising  from  the 
want  of  an  adequate  capital.  At  the  same  time,  kind  inti- 
mations were  given  that  if  the  plan  were  so  modified  as  to 
secure  a  much  larger  amount  for  this  part  of  the  endow- 


REASONS  FOR  THIS  EFFORT.  249 

ment,  they  were  prepared  to  unite  in  the  effort.  These  facts 
were  made  known  to  the  Board  at  their  November  meet- 
ing, and  awakened  the  liveliest  interest.  The  subject  was 
fully  discussed,  and  as  the  measure  of  enlargement  accorded 
so  well  with  their  own  convictions  as  to  the  real  wants  of 
the  case,  an  order  was  passed  unanimously  that  we  attempt 
at  once  to  raise,  by  subscription,  the  sum  of  One  Hundred 
Thousand  Dollars,  not  more  than  Thirty  Thousand  of  which 
to  be  employed  for  building  purposes,  the  remaining 
Seventy  Thousand  to  be  added  to  the  permanent  Publishing 
Fund.  In  proof  of  the  earnest  good-will  with  which  the 
Board  adopted  this  measure,  it  will  be  sufficient  to  state 
that  one  of  the  members  present  raised  his  subscription, 
given  on  the  former  plan,  from  one  thousand,  to  five  thou- 
sand dollars,  and  another  from  five  thousand,  to  eight 
thousand  five  hundred.  These  two  subscriptions  of  thirty 
thousand  dollars  for  building,  and  seventy  thousand  for 
publishing  purposes,  are  now  blended  in  one  under  the 
heading  of  "Enlargement  of  Permanent  Capital." 


108.  Reasons  for  this  Effort. 

"Your  Board  will  attempt  no  formal  argument  to 
sustain  this  policy  of  enlarging  the  capital,  and  thereby 
increasing  the  power  of  the  Society.  They  would  not  as- 
sume to  instruct  their  brethren  by  descanting  on  the  power 
of  the  press  for  good  or  for  evil,  or  on  the  necessity  of 
counteracting  the  tendency  of  its  corrupt  and  polluting  is- 
sues by  such  as  are  pure  and  saving.  All  they  could  say 
on  the  bearing  of  the  Evangelical  Press  on  the  wants  and 
dangers  of  a  people  so  full  of  energy  and  enterprise,  so 
heterogeneous,  mixed,  and  scattered  as  ours,  or  on  the  gen- 
eral weal  of  the  nation,  is  fully  known  and  conceded. 
Without  looking  beyond  our  own  communion,  with  its 


250  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

million  membership  nearly,  and  having  as  adherents  one- 
fifth  of  our  country's  population,  we  have  motive  enough 
to  press  us  to  the  use  of  this  and  every  other  avail- 
able agency  in  the  work  of  evangelization.  Every 
argument  and  every  motive  which  impelled  our  fathers  to 
plan  and  call  into  being  this  Institution,  has,  with  the  pro- 
gress of  years,  gained  additional  force  and  intensity,  and 
should  at  this  day  urge  us  to  ply  with  redoubled  zeal  and 
energy  the  power  they  placed  in  our  hands. 

With  our  present  meagre  resources,  it  is  in  vain  to  expect 
that,  by  any  tact,  or  skill,  or  energy,  your  Board  can  give 
the  Society  that  degree  of  efficiency  which  comports  with 
its  worthy  aims,  the  name  it  bears,  the  work  assigned  it, 
and  the  vast  and  growing  field  inviting  its  efforts.  The 
sons  of  Jacob  in  Egypt  might  have  made  bricks  without 
straw,  as  readily  as  your  Board  can  make  books  without 
money,  or  create  an  ample  stock  without  a  more  adequate 
Capital.  With  the  small  Capital  now  at  command,  and 
the  consequent  limited  range  and  meagre  variety  of  our 
publications,  every  department  of  our  operations  is  car- 
ried on  at  a  disadvantage.  To  illustrate  this,  we  select  the 
department  of  Colportage.  With  a  wider  range  and  a 
richer  variety  of  good  and  useful  books,  the  labor  of  Col- 
porteurs would  be  far  more  effective  than  it  can  be  at 
present.  Their  sales  would  be  greatly  increased;  and 
thus,  while  the  field  they  traverse  would  be  more  amply 
supplied  with  the  means  of  instruction,  and  their  toil 
made  productive  of  richer  moral  results,  the  pecu- 
niary profits  arising  from  this  increase  of  sales  would 
aid  us  to  add  to  our  colporteur  force,  since,  by 
a  rule  of  the  Board,  twenty  per  cent,  on  colporteur 
sales  is  applied  to  the  Colporteur  Fund.  This  itself  is  an 
item  of  no  trifling  importance,  as  is  shown  by  the  fact, 
that  during  the  year  now  closed,  more  than  one-third  of 
our  income  for  the  support  of  our  system  of  Colportage 


REASONS  FOR  THIS  EFFORT.  251 

was  derived  from  this  source.  A  double  moral  benefit 
would  thus  arise  from  enriching  our  catalogue,  viewed 
alone  in  relation  to  Colportage.  Treasures  of  truth  from 
the  fountain  of  heavenly  wisdom  would  be  more  largely 
distributed  by  those  already  in  service ;  while,  meantime, 
our  means  to  commission  more  laborers  to  enter  new  fields 
on  a  similar  errand  would  be  thereby  augmented.  As 
matters  now  stand,  to  supply  the  lack  of  variety  in  our 
own  publications,  we  are  compelled  to  purchase  from  other 
societies.  This  we  do  at  a  loss  to  our  business  interests, 
but  we  cannot  avoid  it  without  weakening  the  power  of 
Colportage.  "We  buy  mostly  from  the  American  Tract 
Society;  but  as  their  rules  permit  them  to  give  us  but  22 \ 
per  cent,  discount  from  catalogue  prices,  and  we  credit 
our  Colporteur  Fund  with  20  per  cent.,  the  remaining  2J 
per  cent,  falls  very  far  short  of  covering  the  expense  of 
freightage  alone,  to  say  nothing  of  other  incidental  ex- 
penses. In  this  we  suffer  a  loss — a  loss,  however,  which  is 
better  borne  than  avoided,  until  endowed  with  more  am- 
ple resources,  we  are  prepared  to  send  forth  our  spiritual 
warriors  more  fully  equipped  from  our  own  armory. 

With  the  experience  acquired  by  years  of  service  in 
watching  over  and  managing  the  affairs  of  this  Institution, 
the  best  proof,  perhaps,  that  your  Board  can  give  to  their 
brethren  of  the  importance  which  they  attach  to  the  mea- 
sure here  commended,  will  be  found  by  a  reference  to  the 
subscription  list.  After  contributing  largely,  at  different 
periods,  to  the  permanent  funds  already  secured,  seven 
members  of  the  Board  stand  pledged  for  this  endowment 
to  the  amount  of  twenty-three  thousand  dollars,  or  nearly 
one-fourth  part  of  the  whole  sum  proposed.  They  state 
the  fact  to  show  they  do  not  wish  to  impose  burdens  on 
others  which  they  themselves  are  unwilling  to  bear.  Forty 
thousand  dollars  are  already  secured,  and  scarcely  as  many 
as  forty  names  are  found  in  our  list.  They  appeal  to  those 


252  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

of  their  brethren  who  have  both  the  means  and  the  heart 
to  give.  Let  this  endowment  be  raised  without  interfering 
with  the  ordinary  annuities  for  this  or  kindred  societies. 
This  once  done,  the  Society  will  possess  what  hitherto  it 
has  never  enjoyed — an  effective  and  self-augmenting  capital. 
Give  it  this  capital,  a  good  location,  and  ample  premises, 
and  let  it  go  forth  on  its  mission  of  mercy,  to  bear  its 
tidings  of  good  to  the  poor  and  perishing,  to  bind  up  the 
broken-hearted,  to  give  to  mourners  in  Zion  '  beauty  for 
ashes,  the  oil  of  joy  for  mourning,  and  the  garment  of 
praise  for  the  spirit  of  heaviness,  that  they  may  be  called 
trees  of  righteousness — the  planting  of  the  Lord,  that  he 
may  be  glorified.' 


109.  Agencies. 

"Eight  agents  have  been  in  the  field  during  the  whole,  or 
a  part,  of  the  year.  The  aggregate  of  time  devoted  to  the 
service  was  a  fraction  over  four  years  and  nine  months,  for 
one  man,  The  season  proved  unusually  unpropitious  for 
their  work.  In  some  portions  of  the  field,  they  found  it 
almost  impracticable  to  accomplish  any  thing  in  the  way  of 
collecting  funds.  Our  farming  brethren  had  suffered  the 
loss  of  two  successive  harvests — the  first  by  drought,  and 
the  second  by  mildew  and  rains.  Everywhere,  the  severity 
of  the  winter  obstructed  their  traveling ;  and  when  they 
pressed  their  way  through  the  snowdrifts  to  meet  their  ap- 
pointments, they  often  found  the  attendance  so  small  that 
no  attempts  were  made  at  raising  collections.  This  has 
occasioned  a  serious  deficiency  in  our  Colporteur  Fund. 
The  expenses  of  this  branch  of  our  operations  has  exceeded 
our  resources  by  nearly  four  thousand  dollars. 

Three  excellent  brethren  have  resigned  their  commission, 
as  Agents,  within  the  year,  and  two  others  have  been  ap- 


TESTIMONY   OF  AGENTS.  253 

pointed.  Rev.  D.  C.  Haynes,  at  the  close  of  our  fiscal 
year,  was  transferred  from  his  former  field  in  New  Jersey 
and  Pennsylvania,  to  take  the  place  of  Rev.  Freeman  G. 
Brown,  resigned,  as  General  Agent  for  New  England,  with 
the  title  of  District  Secretary.  The  number  now  in  com- 
mission is  seven.  As  it  is  usual  to  judge  of  the  worth  of 
an  agent's  service  by  the  amount  of  funds  he  collects,  we 
wish  the  fact  to  be  noted,  that  one  of  our  Agents,  during 
the  last  winter,  was  instrumental  in  the  conversion  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  souls,  sixty-eight  of  whom  were  bap- 
tized upon  a  profession  of  their  faith.  Within  the  year,  he 
has  preached  282  sermons ;  reports  180  hopeful  conver- 
sions, 111  of  whom  have  been  baptized. 


110.  Testimony  of  Agents. 

"Rev.  F.  GL  BROWN,  our  efficient  General  Agent  for  New 
England,  has,  we  regret  to  say,  owing  to  ill  health,  beep 
compelled  to  retire  from  the  service.  In  closing  his  con- 
nection with  the  Society,  Bro.  Brown  writes  : — 

'  My  field,  while  in  your  employ,  has  been  a  very  wide 
one,  so  wide  that  it  has  been  impossible  to  bring  much  in- 
fluence to  bear,  for  any  length  of  time,  on  any  one  point ; 
but  I  have  traveled  enough,  in  various  directions,  visited 
churches,  ministering  brethren,  laymen,  and  been  present 
at  numerous  conventions  and  associations,  and  have  seen 
and  heard  enough  to  convince  me  that  the  Publication 
Society  stands  very  high  in  the  estimation  of  the  New 
England  Baptists,  so  far  as  it  has  made  their  acquaintance. 
I  say  it  frankly,  that  I  know  of  no  society  that  is  made  the 
subject  of  so  little  animadversion  as  the  American  Baptist 
Publication  Society.  Of  course,  one  may  find  a  person, 
here  and  there,  who  may  be  disposed  to  find  fault  with 
23 


254  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

some  of  the  little  details  of  the  Society's  operations.  Bnt1 
for  the  great  work  itself,  and  for  the  safe  and  economical 
manner  in  which  it  is  carried  forward,  all  agree  in  expres- 
sions of  the  heartiest  commendation.  There  is  not  even 
enough  of  opposition,  perhaps,  for  its  good.  I  have  been 
sorry  to  find  the  Society  so  little  known,  however,  in  some 
directions ;  and  such  an  absence  of  all  denominational 
feeling,  in  some  instances,  on  the  part  of  brethren,  leading 
them  to  patronize  some  kindred  institution,  instead  of  one 
of  their  own.  These  difficulties  will  be  obviated,  I  think, 
in  time.' 


111.  Books  and  Colportage. 

"  '  The  books  from  your  press  are  contributing  greatly  to- 
ward a  favorable  introduction  of  the  Society.  One  may 
well  feel  proud  of  such  publications,  both  as  it  respects 
matter,  manner,  and  cheapness.  It  would  be  strange  if, 
with  your  limited  capital,  you  should  publish  books  as 
cheap  as  similar  institutions  with  a  far  larger  capital.  And 
yet  I  was  highly  pleased,  on  one  occasion,  at  a  fact  like 
this.  A  bookseller,  putting  a  book  into  my  hand  from 
your  press,  complained  that  it  was  ten  cents  higher  than  a 
similar  book  which  he  had  on  his  shelves,  issued  by  a  kin- 
dred institution.  I  asked  to  see  the  two  books  side  by 
side  ;  and  then  drew  his  attention  to  the  binding,  the 
paper,  and,  finally,  to  the  print  of  each.  He  was  obliged 
to  admit  that,  in  each  of  these  particulars,  your  book  had 
the  preference  ;  and  what  was  our  mutual  surprise,  and  my 
own  gratification,  to  find  that,  after  all,  it  was  your  book 
that  was  the  cheaper,  too  ! 

"  I  have  been  pleased  to  see  how  popular  Colportage  is 
among  the  people.  There  is  no  feature  of  the  Society  so 
taking  as  this.  The  one  thing  necessary  to  render  it  in- 


TESTIMONY   OF   AGENTS.  255 

creasingly  and  universally  popular,  is  the  regular  reception 
of  reports  from  Colporteurs,  by  such  individual  churches, 
and  Sabbath-schools,  as  give  them  their  support.  I  have 
found  a  number  of  young  men  who  favored  the  idea  of  un- 
dertaking the  support  of  a  Colporteur ;  sometimes  a  busi- 
ness firm,  composed  of  young  men,  have  entered  upon  this 
work.  At  other  times,  a  young  man  has  done  this  work 
alone.  Here  is  one  such  instance.  On  one  occasion,  after 
having  presented  the  claims  of  the  Society  to  an  audience 
in  the  .neighborhood  of  B.,  I  received  a  note  from  a  young 
merchant,  desiring  me  to  call  at  his  store  at  my  earliest 
opportunity.  Without  knowing  or  surmising  the  object 
of  the  writer,  I  called  as  desired ;  when  the  young  man, 
taking  me  into  a  retired  part  of  his  place  of  business, 
opened  conversation,  by  giving  me  a  brief  sketch  of  his 
Christian  experience;  of  the  habit  of  his  pious  mother, 
when  he  was  but  a  lad,  of  taking  him  by  the  hand,  and  lead- 
ing him  to  her  closet,  where,  laying  her  hand  upon  his  head, 
she  would  kneel,  and  devoutly  and  earnestly  supplicate 
God  to  early  convert  him  to  Christ,  and  make  him  a  highly 
useful  Christian.  "  Those  prayers,"  said  the  young  man, 
with  deep  emotion,  "  God  was  pleased  to  answer  ;  and  now 
I  want  to  devote  my  days  to  his  service.  He  has  pros- 
pered me  in  business,  and  I  want  to  render  unto  him  a 
tribute  of  gratitude.  Here  is  the  sum  necessary  to  support 
a  Colporteur,  for  one  year ;  calculate  upon  a  similar 
amount  from  me  for  ten  years  to  come,  should  life  and 
prosperity  attend  me.  Let  me  know  the  name  of  the 
person  who  is  to  be  supported  with  this  money,  and  where 
will  be  his  field  of  labor.  I  wish  to  correspond  with  him, 
and  make  him  a  subject  of  constant  prayer."  ' 

"  REV.  CHARLES  RANDALL.— Field,  Eastern  and  Central 
New  York.  Since  the  resignation  of  Rev.  R.  G.  Toles,  his 
field  has  been  divided  between  brethren  Randall  and  Fol- 


256  AMERICAN  BAPTIST  PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

well.  Bro.  R.,  at  the  close  of  our  fiscal  year,  March  1st, 
writes  as  follows  : — '  I  have  traveled  about  two  thousand 
miles,  one-fourth  of  which,  at  least,  has  been  traveled  on 
foot.  I  have  preached  on  the  Sabbath  from  one  to  three 
sermons,  and  during  the  week  have  visited  from  house  to 
house,  imparting  information,  and  receiving  the  contribu- 
tions of  the  brethren.  This,  I  am  aware,  is  a  laborious 
method  of  conducting  my  work,  but  I  am  satisfied  that  it 
possesses  decided  advantages.  Among  the  many  hundreds 
with  whom  I  have  thus  held  personal  intercourse,  the  great 
majority  cherish  a  warm  regard  for  the  interests  of  the 
Society,  give  liberally  for  its  support,  and  earnestly  com- 
mend it  to  God  in  their  prayers.  Many  express  a  strong 
desire  to  have  the  Society  issue  a  Sunday-school  paper, 
and  to  have  a  full  depository  of  our  publications  in  the 
city  of  New  York.  The  recent  opening  for  Colportage  in 
Sweden,  has  awakened  a  very  deep  interest;  and  the  con- 
viction is  becoming  more  general  that  the  Society's  opera- 
tions in  this  department  should  be  greatly  enlarged. 

'  In  conclusion,  allow  me  to  say,  that  the  cordiality 
with  which  I  have  been  received  among  my  brethren,  as 
the  Agent  of  the  Society,  and  the  aid  they  have  so  cheer- 
fully imparted,  have  been  very  pleasing  to  me,  and  greatly 
encouraged  me  in  my  work.' 

"REV.  D.  C.  HAYNES.— Field,  New  Jersey  and  Pennsyl- 
vania. In  reviewing  the  labors  of  the  year  ending  March 
13th,  being  the  close  of  his  second  year  in  the  agency, 
Bro.  Haynes  writes  thus :  '  I  have  visited  Conventions, 
Associations,  Sunday-schools,  and  individuals,  as  exten- 
sively as  possible  throughout  the  two  States,  and  in  every 
place  have  met  a  kind  reception.  The  Society  is  growing 
in  favor  with  all  intelligent  persons.  There  is  a  general 
belief  that  it  is  assuming  a  position  second  to  none.' 

"DR.  N.  W.  FOLWELL,  our  Agent  in  Western  New  York, 


TESTIMONY   OP  AGENTS.  257 

the  field  made  vacant  by  the  resignation  of  Rev.  0.  D. 
Taylor,  after  referring  to  the  obstructions  thrown  in  his 
way  by  the  severity  of  the  winter,  and  the  scarcity  of 
money,  owing  to  the  failure  of  two  successive  harvests, 
writes  as  follows  : 

'  In  nearly  every  church  which  I  have  visited,  I  have 
found  a  general  expression  of  sympathy  and  good-will 
toward  the  Publication  Society,  and  have  received  a  cor- 
dial welcome  at  the  homes  of  my  brethren,  and  especially 
the  pastors,  for  which  I  feel  very  grateful. 

'-My  conviction  in  regard  to  the  Society  is,  that  we  have 
no  more  efficient  instrumentality  existing  among  us  for  the 
great  work  of  home  evangelization,  combining  as  it  does 
the  power  of  the  press  with  the  living  ministry,  in  the  dis- 
semination of  truth.  My  heart's  desire  and  prayer  to 
God  is,  that  it  may  receive  the  cordial  support  of  all  the 
churches.' 

"REV.  A.  JONES. — Field,  Vermont.  Bro  Jones  entered 
on  the  agency  in  November  last,  and  under  date  of  April 
15th,  writes  as  follows  :  '  In  entering  on  the  work  assign- 
ed me,  I  was  not  ignorant  of  the  labor  required  to  intro- 
duce a  new  object  to  the  churches,  designed  to  take  a  place 
among  the  sisterhood  of  religious  enterprises,  and  ask  for  a 
regular  support.  My  first  efforts  have  been  directed  to  make 
friends  to  the  Society,  and  to  induce  the  people  to  love 
the  work  in  which  it  is  engaged.  Special  pains  have  been 
taken  to  show  that  the  Society  does  not  conflict  with  other 
good  institutions,  but  is  adapted  to  co-operate  with  them 
in  evangelizing  the  world.  And,  believing  that  the  most 
successful  and  u-seful  agencies  are  those  that  sympathize 
most  closely  with  the  churches,  it  has  been  my  object  to 
aid  the  pastors  and  churches,  as  much  as  possible,  while 
with  them  on  my  special  errand. 
23* 


258  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

'  During  the  period  of  my  labor  for  the  Society,  I  have 
traveled  2000  miles ;  preached  65  sermons ;  attended  40 
prayer-meetings  ;  and  visited  35  churches.  The  brethren 
have  received  me  kindly,  professed  an  interest  in  the  work 
of  the  Society,  given  some  money,  and  promised  more.  I 
believe  these  professions  to  be  sincere,  and  shall  work  with 
confidence  for  future  aid.  A  toilsome  work  has  been  per- 
formed, and  the  Society  is  known  in  Vermont. ' 

"  RET.  SUPPLY  CHASE. — Field  of  labor,  Michigan.  In 
accordance  with  the  expressed  wishes  of  brother  Chase, 
made  known  to  the  Board  when  he  accepted  the  agency, 
he  has  been  encouraged  to  stop  by  the  way  and  preach  to 
the  people,  wherever  he  found  an  open  and  effectual  door. 
In  these  evangelical  labors,  unsparingly  rendered,  he  has 
been  signally  blessed,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following  sum- 
mary for  four  months  :  Sermons  preached,  155  ;  conver- 
sions, 120  ;  baptisms,  68.  Total  for  the  year  :  Sermons, 
282;  conversions,  180;  baptisms,  111. 

'  In  reviewing  my  labor,  I  cannot  but  feel  that  God 
directed  the  measures  which  resulted  in  my  devoting  the 
time  in  the  manner  I  have.  A  rich  blessing  has  followed ; 
and,  although  the  labor  has  been  severe,  I  have  obtained 
a  rich  reward,  in  seeing  the  cause  of  the  Master  revived 
and  sinners  converted.' 


112.  Colportage. 

"  The  number  of  Colporteurs  put  in  commission  during 
the  year  ending  March  1st,  1856,  was  One  Hundred  and 
Nine.  Of  that  number  twenty-three  were  students ;  thir- 
teen from  Rochester  University ;  seven  from  Madison ; 
and  three  from  Lewisburg. 

These  brethren  were  distributed  as  follows :    2  in  Ar- 


COLPORTAGE.  259 

kansas;  1  in  Delaware;  10  in  Illinois;  4  in  Indiana;  1  in 
Iowa  ;  3  in  Kentucky  ;  1  in  Maryland  ;  5  in  Michigan  ; 
3  in  Missouri ;  1  in  New  Hampshire  ;  4  in  New  Jersey ; 
30  in  New  York;  3  in  Ohio  ;  17  in  Pennsylvania  ;  1  in 
Tennessee  ;  4  in  Vermont ;  1  in  Virginia  ;  7  in  Wisconsin ; 
1  in  Oregon ;  5  in  Canada ;  and  5  in  Sweden. 

The  number  in  commission  at  the  close  of  the  year  was 
sixty-four,  located  as  follows  :  2  in  Arkansas  ;  1  in  Dela- 
ware ;  5  in  Illinois;  4  in  Indiana;  1  in  Iowa;  2  in  Ken- 
tucky ;  1  in  Maryland ;  4  in  Michigan ;  3  in  Missouri ; 
12  in  New  York ;  8  in  Pennsylvania ;  1  in  Tennessee ;  4 
in  Vermont ;  1  in  Virginia ;  7  in  Wisconsin  ;  3  in  Canada ; 
and  5  in  Sweden. 

From  the  accompanying  statistical  tables  it  appears  that 
during  the  year,  1,990  weeks  of  service  has  been  rendered ; 
in  which  85,989  miles  were  traveled;  36,663  volumes 
sold  ;  2,788  volumes  given  to  the  poor ;  478,392  pages  of 
tracts  distributed ;  67,252  families,  and  3,503  vessels 
visited ;  2,621  prayer  meetings  held ;  3,500  sermons 
preached ;  486  converts  baptized ;  (the  baptized  by  Col- 
porteurs being  only  about  one-half  of  the  number  hopefully 
converted)  12  Churches  constituted ;  and  31  Sunday- 
schools  organized. 

These  are  the  simple  statistics  of  Colporteur  labor ;  but 
who  can  form  an  adequate  estimate  of  the  moral  results. 
To  look  at  these  naked  figures  alone,  we  gain  but  a  faint 
and  partial  view  of  the  more  direct  and  immediate  fruits 
of  the  work  of  our  Colporteurs.  The  Sunday-schools 
gathered,  the  Churches  formed,  and  the  converts  made  and 
baptized,  while  they  furnish  cause  for  devout  thanksgiving, 
constitute  only  a  part  of  the  blessings  attending  their  labor. 
These  vital  and  co-operative  agencies  are  "first  fruits," 
gathered  on  fields  where  they  have  labored  alone.  From 
their  monthly  reports  we  gather  that  other  converts  to 
Christ,  numbered  by  hundreds,  have  been  won  by  services 


2CO  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 

rendered  by  them  in  conjunction  with  pastors  and  other 
evangelists.  They  sometimes  spend  ten  days  or  a  fort- 
night assisting  at  public  meetings,  promoting  revivals  by 
preaching  the  Gospel,  distributing  books  and  tracts,  and 
by  earnest  personal  converse  from  house  to  house.  Our 
tables  do  not  exhibit  the  fruit  of  these  services  j  the  record 
of  that  is  on  high. 

Look  again  at  the  extent  of  their  travels — 85,733  miles 
— enough  to  girdle  the  globe  three  and  a  half  times.  In 
the  course  of  these  travels  they  visited  61,252  families,  or 
one  to  every  mile  and  a  quarter,  embracing  an  aggregate 
of  336,000  souls  ;  and  over  this  field  they  scattered  no  less 
than  39,405  volumes  of  a  choice  Christian  literature,  be- 
sides hundreds  of  thousands  of  pages  of  tracts,  replete  with 
the  saving  truths  of  the  Gospel.  Admit  that  much  of  this 
seed  may  have  fallen  in  stony  or  sterile  ground,  yet  who, 
that  knows  the  dealings  of  God  with  men,  can  doubt  that 
much  will  ripen  in  fruit  unto  life  eternal.  Evangelical 
books  and  evangelical  sermons,  by  the  might  of  the  quicken- 
ing Spirit,  convey  alike  to  the  souls  of  men,  the  life  and 
power  and  peace  of  the  Gospel.  The  book  and  the  sermon, 
each,  has  its  own  peculiar  advantage,  and  the  two  com- 
bined constitute  God's  chosen  instruments  for  propagating 
Christianity,  at  home  and  abroad. 


113.  Colportage  a  Complete  System  of  Evangelism. 

"  Colportage,  as  conducted  by  this  Society,  embraces  a 
full  and  complete  system  of  Evangelism.  By  far  the 
greater  number  of  our  Colporteurs  are  Ministers  of  Christ, 
ordained  to  preach  the  Gospel.  They  carry  with  them  the 
living  "  oracles,"  and  other  religious  books  and  tracts — 
form  Sabbath-schools,  found  Churches,  dispense  ordinances, 


COLPORTAGE   A   COMPLETE   SYSTEM   OF   EVANGELISM.  261 

and  ordain  others  to  preach  the  Gospel.  Their  books  and 
tracts  are  used  as  chief  auxiliaries  in  prosecuting  their  high 
and  holy  vocation.  The  teachings  of  Banyan  and  Fuller, 
Baxter  and  Hall,  Doddridge  and  Booth,  Flavel  and  Pike, 
with  many  more,  are  powerful  helps  in  the  work  of  culti- 
vating the  moral  wastes  of  our  country.  Having  wide  and 
extensive  fields  to  traverse,  their  visits  cannot  be  frequent, 
so  that  without  the  aid  of  the  books  they  distribute,  their 
toilsome,  itinerant  labor  would  render  but  little  fruit. 
The  seed  sown  from  the  lips  of  the  preacher,  even  when 
falling  on  a  prepared  and  productive  soil,  germinates  once, 
and  then  dies  ;  while  the  seed  sown  from  the  leaves  of  the 
book,  possesses  unlimited  germinant  powers,  and  springs 
up  again  and  again,  with  no  loss  of  vitality.  It  falls,  per- 
haps first,  in  the  heart  of  a  thoughtless  and  prayerless 
father,  and  a  promising  blade  is  seen  in  growing  sobriety 
and  amendment  of  life ;  but  this  may  be  checked  by  the 
weeds  of  a  worldly  spirit,  or  eaten  out  by  corroding  cares. 
The  book  is  still  there  ;  its  leaves  are  turned  by  the  mother, 
and  the  seed,  conveyed  to  her  heart,  produces  the  fruit  of 
holy  living  ;  and  the  house  which  heretofore  was  a  school 
of  iniquity,  is  now  a  school  of  religious  instruction,  and 
children  are  taught  the  fear  of  God  as  the  beginning  of 
wisdom.  Multiplied  instances  of  such  an  occurrence  are 
witnessed  by  Colporteurs,  and  furnish  a  cheering  proof  that 
this  method  of  propagating  the  Gospel  is  stamped  with  the 
seal  of  divine  approbation. 


114.  Colportage  Established  in  Sweden. 

"  In  accordance  with  instructions  given  at  your  last  anni- 
versary, the  Board  took  early  measures  to  provide  for  the 
establishment  of  a  system  of  Colportage  in  Sweden.  So 


262  AMERICAN   BAPTIST  PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

soon  as  the  books  and  tracts  deemed  useful  for  the  com- 
mencement of  the  work  in  that  country  had  been  prepared, 
Rev.  Andreas  Wiberg,  a  native  of  Sweden,  was  put  in 
commission  as  Missionary  Colporteur,  to  locate  in  Stock- 
holm. His  commission  dates  July  1st,  1855.  He  did  not 
sail,  however,  until  the  8th  of  September  following.  The 
Board  thought  it  best  that  he  should  have  opportunity  to 
extend  his  acquaintance  among  his  American  brethren,  and, 
at  the  same  time,  to  awaken  an  interest  in  some  of  the 
churches  on  behalf  of  his  mission. 

He  arrived  in  Stockholm,  with  his  companion,  on  the  1th 
of  November,  having  spent  a  few  days  on  the  way  with  the 
brethren  in  Hamburg.  On  the  same  day  in  which  he 
arrived,  he  found  the  disciples  convened  for  worship,  and 
without  delay  proceeded  to  break  to  them  the  bread  of  life. 
It  is  cause  of  rejoicing  and  praise,  that  while  the  rural  dis- 
tricts, and  places  remote  from  the  seat  of  government,  are 
greatly  harassed  by  the  spirit  of  persecution,  Brother 
Wiberg  has  been  allowed  to  preach  in  the  capital  with  little 
or  no  molestation.  The  court-preacher  even  entered  their 
meeting,  and  quietly  withdrew,  after  reading  a  bitter  phil- 
ippic, from  the  writings  of  Luther,  against  the  Anabaptists. 

On  the  14th  of  November,  a  week  after  the  arrival  of 
Brother  Wiberg  in  Stockholm,  eleven  persons  were  added 
to  the  church  by  baptism,  and  the  church  was  rendered 
more  complete  in  its  organization  by  the  election  of  officers. 

Three  more  have  been  added  since  by  baptism.  There 
are  now  four  churches  of  our  faith  in  that  kingdom,  and 
the  number  of  baptized  believers  exceeds  five  hundred. 
Four  additional  Colporteurs  were  appointed  upon  the 
recommendation  of  Brother  Wiberg,  and  entered  on  their 
work,  in  different  parts  of  the  kingdom,  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  present  year.  Their  first  quarterly  report  has 
not  yet  come  to  hand.  At  last  accounts  from  that  field, 
March  tth,  our  brethren  were  threatened  with  a  renewal 


COLPORTAGE   ESTABLISHED   IN   SWEDEN.  263 

of  violent  persecution.  Brother  Hejdenberg,  whose  letter 
from  prison  awakened  such  lively  interest  at  our  last  Anni- 
versary, was  again  imprisoned  for  holding  conventicles  and 
preaching  the  Gospel,  in  contravention  of  law.  The  word 
of  God  is  not  bound,  if  its  teachers  are  ;  on  the  contrary, 
their  meek  and  patient  endurance  in  the  cause  of  Christ  and 
humanity,  adds  force  to  their  teaching,  and  redounds  to 
the  glory  of  God.  Fines  and  imprisonment  utterly  fail  to 
dampen  the  zeal  or  repress  the  courage  of  our  brethren  : 
they  brave  the  storm  in  the  martyr-spirit  of  primitive 
Christians.  Twice  the  number  of  Colporteurs  now  in 
commission  would  be  glad  to  receive  an  appointment,  had 
we  the  means  to  sustain  them.  Shall  we  remember  our 
brethren,  now  fighting  the  battle  in  Sweden,  for  freedom  of 
conscience  and  freedom  of  worship,  and  help  them,  in  this 
their  day  of  adversity  ? 

Since  our  Anniversary,  intelligence  of  a  very  cheering 
character  has  been  received  from  Sweden.  The  cause  of 
evangelical  religion  is  spreading  with  extraordinary  ra- 
pidity. In  spite  of  opposition  from  the  police,  stimulated 
by  the  clergy  of  the  Establishment,  the  people  assemble  to 
hear  the  Gospel  from  the  lips  of  our  Colporteurs.  Con- 
gregations ranging  from  two  to  five  hundred  persons,  and 
sometimes  as  many  as  a  thousand,  are  gathered  together 
on  week  days,  in  the  open  air,  and  listen  with  eagerness  to 
the  message  of  life.  This  spirit  of  deep  and  anxious  in- 
quiry is  not  confined  to  one  or  two  localities,  but  is  widely 
difused  through  different  provinces,  from  East- Gothland,  in 
the  south,  to  West-Norland,  in  the  north.  An  irrepressible 
desire  prevails  to  hear  the  word.  The  Bible  and  other 
religious  books  are  sought  with  avidity,  and  searched  with 
diligence,  and  very  many  believe.  Even  in  the  capital,  our 
brethren  have  been  called  upon,  once  and  again,  to  defend 
their  principles,  in  public  discussions  with  the  State  clergy  ; 
and,  in  proof  of  the  interest  felt  in  the  subject,  it  is  said 


264          AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

that  no  less  than  two  thousand  persons,  embracing  a  great 
number  of  the  clergy  and  other  people  of  rank,  attended 
these  meetings. 

Brethren  Wiberg  and  Mullersvord,  the  joint  pastors  of 
the  church  in  Stockholm,  hold  seven  preaching  services 
each  week ;  and  although  they  occupy  a  large  hall,  they  are 
straitened  for  room  to  accommodate  their  hearers.  Under 
the  editorial  supervision  of  Bro.  Wiberg,  a  semi-monthly 
paper,  called  the  Evangelist,  has  been  issued  since  the  first 
of  this  year.  It  has  already  attained  a  circulation  of  one 
thousand  copies,  and  bids  fair  to  become  a  potent  auxiliary 
in  the  work  of  evangelization.  The  press  is  also  employed 
in  issuing  tracts,  from  the  duplicate  plates  furnished  to  Bro. 
Wiberg  on  his  leaving  this  country.  Thousands  of  these 
tracts  are  being  constantly  scattered  among  the  people,  with 
the  happiest  results.  Indeed,  this  seems  to  have  been  the 
most  marked  instrumentality,  for  years  past,  in  this  won- 
derful awakening.  One  of  the  brethren,  writing  to  Bro. 
Wiberg,  some  time  since,  says:  'Of  the  prevailing  craving 
in  our  country  for  the  word  of  God,  we  may  form  some 
opinion  by  the  following  facts  :  I  have  already  distributed 
this  year,  25,000  copies  of  "  Come  to  Jesus  ;"  between  40 
and  50,000  of  the  writings  of  Kyle  and  other  authors; 
nearly  50,000  writings  for  children,  and  about  30,000  tracts. 
Bibles  and  Testaments  are  sold  faster  than  they  can  be 
printed,  and  of  these  we  are  always  lacking.  Is  not  this  a 
token  for  good?  Yea,  the"  Lord  shows  himself  powerful 
in  our  days !" 

Rev.  P.  G.  Hejdenberg  has  been  greatly  persecuted,  and 
still  more  greatly  blessed  in  his  work,  during  the  past 
autumn  and  winter.  Summoned  to  appear  before  different 
courts,  in  distant  parts  of  the  country,  no  less  than  five 
times  fined,  and  at  one  time  imprisoned  for  twenty-nine 
days,  he  has,  nevertheless,  labored  unintermittingly  in 
preaching,  though  preaching  and  administering  the  ordi- 


RESOLUTIONS.  265 

nances  constitute  the  sum  of  his  offenses.  He  preaches  in 
prison,  thongh  imprisoned  for  preaching.  During  his 
journeys  from  court  to  court,  from  August  to  April,  he 
traveled  2418  miles,  held  144  religious  meetings,  and  bap- 
tized 116  converts.  In  reviewing  the  whole,  Bro.  H.  says  : 
'  When  I  look  back  on  all  the  way  by  which  the  Lord  has 
led  me,  I  am  constrained  to  exclaim,  with  great  thankful- 
ness, "Behold  what  the  Lord  has  wrought!"'  Nas  Per 
Person  has  baptized  10  at  Orsa,  and  Bro.  Wiberg  14  in 
Stockholm,  making  a  total  of  baptisms  from  August  to 
April,  of  140  souls.  Well  may  the  persecuted  Colporteurs 
say,  '  BEHOLD  WHAT  THE  LORD  HAS  WROUGHT  !' " 



"~~ 


Resolutions. 

After  the  reading  of  the  Annual  Report — whose  import- 
ance seems  to  justify  and  even  to  demand  the  copious  ex- 
tracts we  have  given  above,  bringing  up  the  History  of  the 
Society  to  the  present  moment,  the  very  crisis  of  a  new 
epoch  of  union,  grandeur,  and  strength — it  was,  on  motion 
of  Rev.  D.  Dunbar,  not  only  adopted  and  ordered  to  be 
printed,  but  the  momentous  part  on  the  Enlargement  of 
the  Permanent  Capital  of  the  Society,  was  referred  to  a 
Committee,  to  consider  and  report  upon  in  the  afternoon. 
The  Committee  of  five  were,  H.  II.  Hawley,  Esq.,  Rev.  D. 
H.  Miller,  and  Rev.  E.  T.  Hiscox,  all  of  N.  Y. ;  Rev.  A. 
S.  Patton,  of  N.  J.,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Belcher,  of  Pa.  Com- 
mittees were  also  raised  on  the  topics  of  Home  Colportage 
and  Foreign  Colportage. 

The  Committee  on  the  Enlargement  of  Capital,  made  a 
Report,  embodying  the  following  Resolution  ;  which,  after 
a  free  conference  of  opinion  in  the  meeting,  was  unani- 
mously adopted : 

"Resolved,   That  we  cordially  approve  the  proposal  to 
23 

,>-.. 


266  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 

raise  the  sura  of  One  Hundred  Thousand  Dollars ;  not 
more  than  Thirty  Thousand  to  be  appropriated  to  build- 
ings, and  the  remaining  Seventy  Thousand  to  constitute  a 
Publication  Capital  for  this  Society;  and  that  we  earnestly 
commend  this  object  to  the  wealthy  members  of  our  de- 
nomination, and  urge  its  speedy  accomplishment." 

The  Committee  on  Home  Colportage  reported ;  submit- 
ing  the  following  Resolution,  which  was  unanimously 
adopted  : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  number  of  Colporteurs  employed  by 
this  Society  during  the  past  year,  should,  if  possible,  be 
increased  to  two  hundred  the  present." 

The  Committee  on  Foreign  Colportage,  reported,  and 
recommended  the  following  resolutions,  which  were  unani- 
mously adopted : 

"  1.  Resolved,  That  we  cherish  devout  gratitude  to  the 
great  Head  of  the  Church  for  the  signal  blessings  which 
have  been  bestowed  upon  us  and  all  his  people,  in  the  con- 
version of  souls  throughout  the  kingdom  of  Sweden  ;  and 
for  the  spiritual  efficiency,  constancy,  and  devotedness 
which  He  has  imparted  to  our  Colporteurs  there  laboring. 

"  2.  Resolved,  That,  encouraged  by  present  blessings, 
the  Board  be  recommended  to  take  steps  for  the  immediate 
increase  of  the  number  of  its  Colporteurs  in  Sweden,  and 
other  parts  of  the  world." 

The  officers  for  the  year  were  then  chosen,  without  any 
important  change. 

In  the  evening,  interesting  Addresses  were  delivered  by 
Rev.  H.  C.  Fish,  of  Newark,  N.  Jersey,  and  Rev.  G.  W. 
Sampson,  of  Washington,  D.  C. 

The  following  resolution  was  submitted  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Dowling,  at  the  close  of  the  evening,  and  unanimously 
adopted  : 

"Resolved,  That  the  American  Baptist  Publication 
Society — bv  the  importance  of  the  objects  it  proposes  to 


CONCLUSION.  267 

accomplish — by  the  wise  adaptation  of  the  means  and 
agencies  it  employs — and  by  the  rigid  economy  of  its  ad- 
ministration, warmly  commends  itself  to  the  confidence  and 
co-operation  of  the  great  body  of  American  Baptists  ;  and 
should  receive,  as  it  deserves,  largely  increased  facilities, 
in  ample  buildings,  augmented  capital,  and  increased 
annual  contributions,  for  its  great  and  important  work." 


116.  Conclusion. 

One  general  conclusion,  it  would  seem,  must  be  drawn 
by  every  reflecting  mind,  in  reviewing  this  History.  That 
conclusion  is,  that  the  American  Baptist  Publication  So- 
ciety has  already  been  the  medium  of  incalculable  good — 
that  it  possesses,  in  its  nature,  a  power  of  unlimited  exten- 
sion— that  it  might  have  accomplished,  with  the  same 
Officers  and  Agents,  incomparably  more  good  with  an 
adequate  capital  from  the  beginning — that  the  want  of  this 
capital  has  been  the  only  drawback  on  its  enterprise,  the 
only  occasion  of  reproach,  the  only  source  of  distress,  em- 
barrassment and  retrenchment;  and  that  when  the  De- 
nomination shall  become  properly  aware  of  this,  and  shall 
liberally  endow  it  with  adequate  means,  it  will,  by  the 
blessing  of  God,  go  forth  with  new  power  and  glory  to 
build  up  the  kingdom  of  Christ.  Then  shall  this  Society, 
the  property  and  the  pride  of  our  whole  denomination,  rise 
to  its  true  position — central  and  conspicuous — like  the 
Angel  of  the  Apocalypse,  with  his  face  as  the  sun,  and 
his  feet  as  pillars  of  fire,  with  one  foot  upon  the  land  and 
the  other  upon  the  sea,  and  with  an  open  book  in  his  hand. 
Then  shall  it  lift  up  among  the  nations  a  voice  of  majesty 
and  power,  as  when  a  lion  roareth ;  and  the  responses  from 
an  awakened  and  redeemed  world  shall  be  sevenfold,  as 
when  seven  thunders  utter  their  voices. 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


ALTHOUGH  negotiations  had  been  in  progress  for  several 
months,  prior  to  the  last  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Society, 
for  the  purchase  of  the  stock  of  stereotype  plates,  copy- 
rights, &c.,  of  the  New  England  Sabbath-School  Union, 
with  a  view  to  the  merging  of  that  Institution  in  the 
American  Baptist  Publication  Society,  the  arrangement 
was  not  consummated  until  the  month  following  the  Anni- 
versary. The  Board  therefore  directed  that  the  following 
notice  of  the  fact  be  published  as  an  Appendix. 


APPENDIX. 


THE  NEW  ENGLAND  SABBATH-SCHOOL  UNION 


MERGED   IN 


THE  AMERICAN  BAPTIST  PUBLICATION  SOCIETY, 


THE  needless  multiplication  of  benevolent  societies  is  justly 
regarded  as  a  serious  evil,  and  ought  to  be  carefully  avoided.  In 
this  day  of  active  charity  and  enterprise,  the  churches  may  not 
be  blamed  for  showing  signs  of  restlessness  and  chafing  when 
called  to  bear  unnecessary  burdens.  May  not  the  discontent 
and  coldness,  the  apathy,  distrust  and  threatened  ruptures,  so 
manifest  among  us  within  the  last  few  years,  owe  their  origin,  in 
part  at  least,  to  a  conviction,  fastening  itself  upon  the  public 
mind,  that  we  employ  too  much  machinery  in  carrying  on  our 
operations ;  and  that  a  more  simple  method  might  be  found, 
which,  at  a  less  cost  of  men  and  money,  would  give  to  all  our 
movements  increased  celerity  and  power. 

"Whatever  may  be  said  of  other  institutions,  distinct  in  charac- 
ter, dissimilar  in  functions,  and  having  different  spheres  and  fields 
of  operation,  no  one,  we  think,  can  doubt  the  wisdom  of  the  mea- 
sure which  blends,  in  one,  two  institutions  so  like  in  character,  in 
agency,  in  aim,  as  those  whose  names  are  here  given.  Why  should 
two  men  be  sent  upon  an  errand  which  can  be  better  done  by 
one  ?  Why  should  two  ships  be  chartered  to  carry  the  same 
kind  of  cargo  to  the  same  port,  when  the  capacity  of  one  is  more 
than  ample  to  carry  all  ?  Did  the  New  England  Sabbath-school 
Union  make  books  for  Sunday-Schools?  This  is  an  essential 
part  of  our  work.  Did  it  send  out  Missionary  Colporteurs? 

(269) 


270  AMERICAN   BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOCIETY. 

We  claim  the  honor  of  being  the  first  American  Society  which 
used  that  designation  for  book-selling  agents.  Did  it  employ 
collecting  agents  to  visit  the  churches,  and  raise  funds  for  the 
support  of  Colportage  ?  "We  do  the  same.  Thus  two  sets  of 
agents  crossed  each  other's  path,  or,  peradventure,  met  at  the 
same  place  on  the  same  errand,  and  for  that  reason  more  than 
any  other,  were  both  unwelcome  ;  while  on  the  other  hand  two 
sets  of  Colporteurs  met  on  the  same  field,  supplying  Sunday- 
schools  with  books,  and  families  with  tracts  and  other  reading. 

This  was  so  obviously  a  waste  of  talent,  time  and  resources, 
that  an  anxious  desire  has  long  been  felt  to  see  a  union  effected 
between  these  two  Societies.  As  early  as  1840,  when  in  answer 
to  a  call  from  the  Hudson  River  Baptist  Association,  and  the 
Board  of  the  Baptist  General  Tract  Society,  a  Convention  as- 
sembled in  the  city  of  New  York,  to  deliberate  in  regard  to  our 
publishing  interests,  among  the  measures  then  recommended, 
upon  the  report  of  a  Committee  composed  of  members  from 
seventeen  different  States  of  the  Union,  the  following  were  the 
principal :  first,  "  That  the  Baptist  General  Tract  Society  so 
far  change  its  character,  as  to  adapt  it  to  the  purposes  of  a 
General  Publishing  Society;"  and  second,  "That  a  union  be 
formed  between  this  Society  and  the  New  England  Sabbath- 
School  Union."  On  that  same  day,  April  30th,  1840,  the  first 
of  these  recommendations  was  promptly  carried  into  effect, 
and  the  Baptist  General  Tract  Society  was  changed  into  the 
American  Baptist  Publication  Society.  The  second  was  not 
adopted. 

In  1848  an  overture  for  union  was  made  by  the  Board  of  this 
Society,  and  was  regarded  with  favor  by  the  Board  of  the  Sab- 
bath-School Union.  An  active  correspondence  ensued,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1850  negotiations  were  brought  within  sight  of  a 
hopeful  conclusion ;  but  owing  to  causes  not  needful  now  to 
detail,  the  wished  for  event  was  not  realized,  and  the  hopes  then 
cherished  faded  away  from  the  view. 

During  last  summer  the  attention  of  the  Board  was  drawn 
again  to  this  subject,  by  the  receipt  of  several  letters,  express- 
ing the  belief  that  the  renewal  of  negotiations  was  strongly  de- 
sired by  our  friends  in  New  England,  and  if  tendered  would  meet 
with  a  cordial  response.  Correspondence  was  accordingly 


UNION   OF   SOCIETIES.  2Y1 

opened.  It  was  soon  ascertained,  however,  that  previous  to 
this  the  Union  had  sold  its  entire  stock  to  a  private  publishing 
house,  and  that  a  third  party  must  now  be  included  in  the  nego- 
tiations. This  rendered  the  matter  somewhat  complex  and  deli- 
cate. Nevertheless,  no  insuperable  barrier  was  placed  in  the 
way,  as  the  gentlemen  holding  the  stock  were  disposed  to  favor 
the  plan  of  uniting  the  two  Societies,  and  were  willing  to  give 
their  concurrence  to  any  measures  compatible  with  a  due  respect 
to  their  private  interests.  The  details  of  the  compact  are.  not 
required  to  be  given  here.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  the  Board  have 
purchased,  at  the  appraisement  of  a  Committee  of  disinterested 
persons,  mutually  chosen,  the  entire  stock  of  Sunday-school 
plates,  engravings,  copyrights,  &c.,  and  have  embraced  the  New 
England  Sabbath-School  Union  as  part  and  parcel  of  the  Ameri- 
can Baptist  Publication  Society. 

This  union  forms  a  new  epoch.  May  we  not  hope  that  now, 
having  but  one  simple  organization,  the  strength  of  our  churches 
will  be  brought  into  harmonious  co-operation,  in  wielding  the 
Press  for  the  spread  of  our  principles,  and  that  the  blessing  of 
God  may  rest  on  the  work  of  our  hands,  to  the  praise  of  his 
glory 


272  AMERICAN    BAPTIST   PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 

THE  CONSTITUTION. 

As  Amended  in  1855. 

ART.  1.  The  name  of  this  Society  shall  be — "THE 
AMERICAN  BAPTIST  PUBLICATION  SOCIETY." 

ART.  2.  The  object  of  this  Society  shall  be  to  publish 
and  circulate  such  religious  works  as,  in  the  judgment  of 
the  Board  of  Managers,  may  be  required  by  the  cause  of 
Truth  and  sound  piety,  and  by  the  interests  of  Sabbath- 
schools. 

ART.  3.  Any  person  may  become  a  Member  of  this 
Society  by  paying,  annually,  the  sum  of  Two  Dollars  or 
more  ;  a  Member  for  Life,  by  the  payment  at  one  time  of 
Twenty  Dollars ;  and  an  Honorary  Manager  for  Life,  by 
the  payment  at  one  time  of  Fifty  Dollars. 

ART.  4.  There  shall  be  a  public  Anniversary  Meeting 
of  the  Society,  at  such  time,  in  the  month  of  April  or  May 
of  each  year,  and  at  such  place,  as  shall  be  appointed  by 
the  Board  of  Managers,  when  the  following  officers  shall 
be  chosen  by  ballot,  viz  :  a  President,  Yice-Presidents, 
Secretaries,  Treasurer,  Assistant  Treasurer,  and  twenty- 
one  other  Members,  all  of  whom  shall  be  members  of 
Baptist  Churches,  who,  together,  shall  be  a  Board  of  Man- 
agers, for  the  direction  of  all  the  concerns  of  the  Society, 
of  whom  five  shall  constitute  a  quorum.  A  majority  of 
the  Board  shall  be  laymen. 

ART.  5.  The  Board  of  Managers  shall  have  power  to 
fill  any  vacancy  which  may  occur  in  its  own  body  ;  to  make 
its  own  by-laws  ;  to  appoint  Agents  and  Colporteurs  ;  to 
appoint  a  Committee  of  Publication,  of  not  less  than  five, 
whose  duty  it  shall  be  carefully  to  examine  all  works  pro- 
posed for  publication  by  the  Society,  preparatory  to  their 
being  committed  to  the  Editor  ;  to  appoint  a  Commitee  of 
Finance,  who  shall  superintend  the  Depository,  direct  all 


THE   CONSTITUTION.  273 

purchases,  take  charge  of  the  Society's  property,  devise 
and  execute  plans  to  increase  the  stock,  and  to  superintend 
all  agencies  ;  and  to  appoint  a  Committee  of-  Accounts, 
who  shall  examine  and  correct  all  bills  and  accounts,  pre- 
vious to  their  being  submitted  to  the  Board  ;  examine  and 
audit  all  the  account  books,  and  perform  all  other  duties 
as  the  Board  may  direct. 

ART.  6.  The  Board  of  Managers  shall  superintend  the 
publication  and  distribution  of  such  Books,  Tracts  and 
Periodicals  as  they  may  approve, — the  establishment  of 
Depositories, — and  the  formation  of  Auxiliary  Societies. 
They  shall  hold  frequent  meetings,  under  such  regulations 
as  they  may  adopt,  in  conformity  with  the  general  provi- 
sions of  this  Constitution.  The  Board  of  Managers  and 
the  Treasurer  shall  make  an  Annual  Report  of  their  pro- 
ceedings. 

ART.  7.  Any  Sunday-school  Union,  or  Society,  or  any 
Publication,  or  Tract  Society,  by  forwarding  to  the  Cor- 
responding Secretary  a  copy  of  their  Annual  Report,  with 
their  Constitution  and  List  of  Officers,  shall  be  considered 
an  Auxiliary.  The  Board  may  grant  special  privileges  to 
other  Societies  if  they  deem  it  expedient.  Auxiliary  So- 
cieties shall  be  allowed,  and  are  requested  to  send  one 
delegate  to  the  Annual  Meeting  of  this  Society,  to  repre- 
sent them,  who  shall  have  the  privilege  of  a  member. 

ART.  8.  Honorary  Managers,  Life  Members,  Annual 
Members,  and  Auxiliary  Societies,  shall  be  entitled  to 
purchase  the  Publications  of  the  Society,  at  reduced  prices. 

ART.  9.  The  duties  of  the  Secretaries  shall  be  assigned 
to  them  by  the  Board  of  Managers. 

ART.  10.  The  Treasurer  and  Assistant  Treasurer,  shall 
give  to  the  President,  for  the  time  being,  satisfactory 
security  for  the  safe  keeping  of  the  funds  committed  to 
them.  The  Assistant  Treasurer  may  receive  funds  and 
pay  the  same  to  the  Treasurer,  and  shall  be  Depository 


2*74  AMERICAN    BAPTIST    PUBLICATION    SOCIETY. 

Agent  to  the  Society.  The  Treasurer  and  Assistant 
Treasurer  shall  be  under  the  direction  of  the  Board  of 
Managers,  who  shall  have  power  to  displace  either  or 
both  if  necessary,  and  appoint  a  new  Treasurer  or  Assist- 
ant Treasurer  to  fill  a  vacancy  in  either  office. 

ART.  11.  The  President  shall  call  a  meeting  of  the 'So- 
ciety at  the  request  of  the  Board  of  Managers. 

ART.  12.  Alterations  of  this  Constitution  proposed  at 
a  previous  Annual  Meeting,  or  recommended  by  the 
Board  of  Managers,  may  be  made  at  the  Annual  Meeting 
by  the  vote  of  two-thirds  of  the  Members  present. 


HISTORICAL   TABLE. 


2T5 


jlication  st> 


M134197 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


